Serological Evidence of Brucellosis in Goats in Kaduna North Senatorial District of Kaduna State, Nigeria

A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the current status of Brucella antibodies in goats in Kaduna North Senatorial District of Kaduna State, Nigeria. A total of 442 serum samples (31 bucks and 411 does) were screened using Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT), serum agglutination test with ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid (SAT-EDTA), and lateral flow assay (LFA). Results. The prevalence of Brucella antibodies was found to be 25.8%, 11.1%, and 2.5% using RBPT, SAT-EDTA, and LFA, respectively. The prevalence in bucks was 32.3%, 3.2%, and 0.0% and 17.5%, 12.4%, and 3.9% in does using RBPT, SAT-EDTA, and LFA, respectively. The prevalence rates for goats less than one year of age using the tests were 1.5%, 0.0%, and 0.0%. While for those within the age bracket of one to three years, the rates were 19.4%, 10.5%, and 3.5%, respectively. The corresponding values for goats above 3 years of age were 34.2%, 15.2%, and 1.8%, respectively. The prevalence of brucellosis in goats in the study area is high which poses a threat to the development of the livestock industry and is of important zoonotic implications in Nigeria. 1. Introduction Brucellosis is a contagious bacterial infection primarily of livestock [1]. The incidence of the disease in humans is thus closely tied to the prevalence of infection in sheep, goats, and cattle, and to practices that allow exposure of humans to potentially infected animals or their products. Human-to-human transmission of the disease is rare, but the possibility of human-to-human transmission of the organism through bone marrow transplantation, blood transfusion, transmammary route, and sexual intercourse has also been documented [2, 3]. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers brucellosis to be a neglected zoonosis because, despite its widespread distribution and effects on multiple species, it is not prioritized by national and international health systems [4]. The species of Brucella which infect livestock and their primary hosts are B. melitensis (sheep and goats), B. abortus (cattle), B. suis (pigs), and B. ovis (sheep) [5, 6]. Brucellosis is well known for its effects on the decrease in productivity of infected livestock by causing abortions, reducing fertility, and decreasing milk yield, resulting in substantial economic losses [7, 8]. Diverse serological prevalence ranging between 0.20% and 79.70%, has been reported in various parts of Nigeria [9]. The infection has further been reported in various animal species in Nigeria [10–16]. This indicates the importance of the disease in Nigeria. The socioeconomic and