Seroprevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Brucellosis as a Professional Hazard in Pakistan

Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence and identify risk factors associated with brucellosis in humans at high risk in the Potohar plateau of northeastern Pakistan. A total of 262 serum samples were collected from persons of different occupational groups: veterinary personnel, milkers, abattoir workers, livestock farmers, and others (drivers, security guards, housewives). Data related to gender, age, occupation, contact with animals, brucellosis-related symptoms, consumption of raw milk, and geographical region were collected. The Rose Bengal plate test and the serum agglutination test were performed to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis. The overall seroprevalence was found to be 6.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.1, 10.6). Real-time polymerase chain reaction assay showed that all cases were affected by Brucella abortus. Individuals who consumed raw milk had higher odds of brucellosis seropositivity. This is the first report of human brucellosis related to B. abortus in high-risk professionals from Pakistan by the combined use of serological and molecular methods.

Application of Serum Based PCR and Fluorescence Polarization Assay for Diagnosis of Brucellosis among People Occupationally at Risk to Disease

“…These include veterinary professionals, farmers, butchers and women living in rural areas dealing routine livestock husbandry directly or indirectly. The study is in agreement with the observations described by several investigators (Mukhtar and Kokab, 2008;Mukhtar, 2010;Ali et al, 2013;Asif et al, 2014). All the male respondents during the study were found generally asymptomatic except for having few clinical signs such as fever and arthritis.…”

“…Farmers and animal handlers were also found to be at risk during study which explains the wide spread of Brucella infection in human population. Hygienically poor livestock practices by farmers, consumptions of raw milk or dairy products and contaminated environmental conditions with Brucella especially during parturition further aggravate the conditions favourable for disease transmission to human (Abo-Shehada et al, 1996;Ali et al, 2013). These results are comparable with our findings described previously (Asif et al, 2014) showing the prevalence of brucellosis among the various occupationally exposed human groups thereby emphasizing the need for more accurate and specific diagnostic facilities to combat this important zoonotic infection in Pakistan.…”

“…There are a number of published reports regarding the prevalence of brucellosis in different human categories with reference to their occupation particularly (Mukhtar and Kokab, 2008;Mukhtar, 2010;Ali et al, 2013). Similarly, many of these previous studies have generally focused on the diagnosis of disease through conventional serological response and not the direct detection of specific antibodies or pathogen through advanced serological, culture or molecular means.…”

Serological and Nucleic Acid Based Detection of Brucellosis in Livestock Species and Molecular Characterization of Brucella melitensis Strains Isolated from Pakistan

“…There are a number of published studies regarding prevalence of brucellosis in different areas of Pakistan, in livestock (Nasir et al, 1999), human population (Mukhtar and Kokab, 2008;Mukhtar, 2010;Ali et al, 2013) and the food chain (Hassan et al, 2010;Shafee et al, 2011). However, it should be noted that the work by Hassan et al (2010) described the isolation of Brucella organisms by culture, which was the part of a wider study into the microbial contamination of meat.…”

Comparison of Standard Agglutination Test and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay to Detect Brucella Infection in Yemeni Pregnant Women

“…infections occur per year with most reported cases occurring in the Syrian Arab Republic, followed by Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan and Iraq [9]. It is transmitted to humans by direct contact with infected animals or consumption of their raw products such as unpasteurized milk or cheese [10,11]. Milkers, live-stock farmers, abattoir workers, shepherds, veterinarians, meat processing workers and laboratory workers are at high risk of getting infected [12,13].…”