A Study on Prevalence and Risk Factors of Brucellosis in Cattle and Buffaloes in District Hyderabad, Pakistan

Abstract

Brucellosis is recognized worldwide as an important bacterial disease of cattle, buffaloes, goats etc, that causes infertility in both male and female animals. The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence of brucellosis in aborted cattle and buffaloes in district Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan. Amongst 69 and 89 milk samples of cattle and buffaloes, the positive reactors for Brucella abortus antibodies examined by milk ring test (MRT) were, 22 (31.88%) and 42 (47.19%), respectively. The main constraints of the prevalence of brucellosis in cattle and buffaloes recorded through interviewing the farmers of the study area were recorded as: addition of animals through an auction (25% and 91%), improper disposal of aborted material (44% and 68%), < 3 kilometer distance between herds (40% and 65%), contact with stray cattle (36% and 49%) and stray dogs (60% and 36%), respectively. It was concluded that brucellosis in cattle and buffaloes is prevalent in dairy and household farms in district Hyderabad, moreover, Brucella positive reactors were predominantly higher in buffaloes than cattle. Veterinary services with improved level should be maintained in the area to reduce the burden of brucellosis in cattle and buffaloes in district Hyderabad.