Seroprevalence of brucellosis and its relationship with reproductive disorders in large ruminants

The present study was planned to investigate the seroprevalence of brucellosis in large ruminants (cattle, buffaloes and camels) at different government livestock farms in Punjab. A total 500 serum samples was collected. Information on breed, age, sex, parity number and reproductive problems was collected. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information. All the serum samples were first examined through Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and the positive serum samples were subjected to Serum Agglutination Test (SAT). The antigens for RBPT and SAT were procured from Veterinary Research Institute (VRI), Lahore. The relationship between sero-positive animals for the brucella antibodies and different reproductive disorders were also investigated. The data on different variables, obtained from this study, were analyzed statistically through chi-square test. The seroprevalence of brucellosis in cattle was found as 7.92 and 5.83% by RBPT and SAT, respectively. The seroprevalence of brucellosis in buffaloes at LPRI Bahadurnagar, Okara, was found to be 4.26 and 3.19% by RBPT and SAT, respectively. The seroprevalence of brucellosis in buffaloes at LES, Khushab and in Cholistan camels was 0%. From human serum samples, no individual was found to be sero-positive. The overall Geometric Mean Titer (GMT) was 88.32 and 79.98 in cattle and buffaloes at LPRI, respectively. A non-significant difference was observed in prevalence in relation to age in cattle at LPRI while in buffaloes chi-square test couldn't applicable. There was non-significant difference between two tests. A statistically non-significant difference was found in abortion rates in relation to age and parity no. A statistically remarkable difference was observed in repeat breeding in relation to age in cattle at LPRI while in buffaloes chi-square test couldn't applicable. A statistically non-significant association of sero-positivity was found with ovarian problems, meteritis, RFM and repeat breeding in cattle and buffaloes at LPRl.