Multicenter Study of Brucellosis in Egypt

Abstract

Brucellosis causes appreciable economic losses in livestock. Examination of milk and tissues from animals in Egypt for Brucella spp. showed increased prevalence rates of serologically reactive animals. All isolates were B. melitensis biovar 3. One Brucella sp. was isolated from milk of serologically nonreactive buffaloes. Brucellosis is one of the major zoonotic infections worldwide (1). It is caused by gram-negative coccobacilli of the genus Brucella and affects cattle, sheep, goats, and other livestock (2,3). Since the discovery of Brucella melitensis by David Bruce in 1887, several species have been identifi ed, such as B. abortus (which infects cattle), B. melitensis (which infects sheep and goats), B. suis, B. neotomae, B, ovis, and B. canis (2,4). Although brucellosis has been controlled in most industrialized countries, it remains a major problem in the Mediterranean region, western Asia, Africa, and Latin America (1). It can cause appreciable economic losses in the livestock industry because of abortions, decreased milk production, sterility, and veterinary care and treatment costs (2).Brucellosis was fi rst reported in Egypt in 1939 (5). Control programs for brucellosis in Egypt have used 2 methods: vaccination of all animals and slaughter of infected animals with positive serologic results. The diffi culty of accurately detecting all infected animals, especially carriers, is a major limitation of these programs. To enhance effi ciency of brucellosis-specifi c prophylaxis, early detection of brucellosis by highly sensitive and specifi c methods is needed.Egypt has mixed populations of sheep, goats, cattle, and buffaloes. The number of buffaloes in Egypt is higher than in any other country in the Near East region (5). In addition to high prevalence rates of B. melitensis infections in sheep and goats, B. melitensis infections of cattle and buffaloes have increased in Egypt (5). Our investigation sought to determine the epidemiology of brucellosis in several governorates in Egypt by using different serologic tests, as well as bacteriologic tests, to identify Brucella spp. organisms isolated from milk and tissue specimens of sheep, cattle, goats, and buffaloes. The StudyWe studied 4,482 animals (1,966 cattle, 1,237 buffaloes, 813 sheep, and 366 goats) from production and breeding farms in various governorates in Egypt during 2007; the animals had no history of having been tested for brucellosis. Milk and tissue samples obtained from all animals were examined for Brucella spp. We used serologic tests recommended by the National Brucella Committee, which represents the general organization of veterinary services, veterinary laboratories, and universities in Egypt (5). The buffered acidifi ed plate antigen (BAPA) test, the Rose Bengal plate test, the standard tube agglutination test, and the Rivanol test were used as described (6-8).Direct culture of milk under aseptic conditions was conducted as follows: ≈20 mL of milk was centrifuged at 1,620 × g for 10 min, and the sediment cream mixture was placed on Bru...

Isolation, identification, and antimicrobial susceptibility of Brucella spp. cultured from cows and goats manure in Mexico

“…Cases of B. melitensis cross-infection have been described in mixed herds of sheep and goats in southern Europe (Verger et al 1989) and are regularly reported in the Middle East (Samaha et al 2008). Our present results show cross-infections with B. abortus, B. melitensis, and B. suis in a brucellosis endemic region of Mexico.…”

A “One Health” surveillance and control of brucellosis in developing countries: Moving away from improvisation

“…for humans, if not the most important one. It remains to be known if cattle are mainly infected with B. melitensis (which is documented in North Africa [48]) or with B. abortus like documented in Zimbabwe [49], or with both Brucella species like recently described in Kenya [27]. The fact that B. abortus infected cattle may be the main source of brucellosis for people in Sub-Saharan Africa means that comparison with the situation prevailing in the Middle East, where small ruminants are the main reservoir of B. melitensis, is not valid.…”

Epidemiological Characteristics of Human Brucellosis in Shahin Dezh, Western Azerbaijan, Iran, 2008-2012

“…Brucellosis is widespread in the world, and it isprevalent in countries of the Mediterranean basin, the near east, South America, and possibly Sub-Saharan Africa (3). The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that 500000 cases are reported worldwide annually, while this value is one-fifth of all cases (5,6).…”