Seroprevalence of Brucella melitensis among Small Ruminants and Humans in Anand Region of Central Gujarat, India

Brucellosis is a zoonosis known to be a major public health hazard of great economic importance globally. The present study was taken up to ascertain the seroprevalence of brucellosis in goats, sheep, and humans of Anand, districts of the Central Gujarat region. Indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (I-ELISA) were employed for detecting the brucella and Brucella melitensis antibodies from animals and humans. They were also compared in terms of their sensitivity and specificity. A total 325 sera samples including 100 from goats, 100 from sheep, and 125 from human beings collected from the Anand district. Out of 325 sera samples tested, overall seroprevalence was 93 (46.50%) while species wise incidence was found to be 55 (55.00%) and 38 (38.00%) among goats and sheep, respectively. Out of 93 (46.50%) seropositive samples 65 (32.50%) were positive for Brucella melitensis comprising 46 goats and 19 sheep sera samples by I-ELISA. Seroprevalence of Brucella melitensis among sheep was 19.00%while among goat was 46.00% by I- ELISA. In case of sex wise seroprevalence of Brucella melitensis in male was 17.00% while in female was 48.00% by I-ELISA, respectively in small ruminants. In goats, sex wise seroprevalence of Brucella melitensis in male was 24.00% while in female 68.00% by I- ELISA. In sheep, sex wise seroprevalence of Brucella melitensis in male was 10.00% while 28.00 % by I- ELISA in female. In humans, taluka wise seroprevalence of brucellosis was 12.50, 33.33, 16.66, 14.28, 33.33 and 37.50 per cent by I-ELISA in Umreth, Anand, Khambhat, Tarapur, Anklav and Sojitra, respectively and none of samples were positive from Petlad and Borsad taluka of Anand district. In humans, occupation wise seroprevalence of brucellosis was 2 (14.28%), 7 (35.00%), 3 (7.31%) and 3 (6.00%) by I-ELISA among veterinary officers, para veterinarians, other staff related with animal husbandry activities and patient with unknown origin pyrexia respectively.