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Investigation of Brucellosis Outbreak in Cattle in Koinadugu District, Sierra Leone, March 2021

Article

Last updated: 25 Dec 2024

Subjects

-

Tags

Veterinary hygiene and Epidemiology

Abstract

I
Brucellosis is a highly contagious zoonotic disease with significant economic consequences. In the last 50 years, no brucellosis outbreak has been documented in Sierra Leone.  In March 2021, Koinadugu District reported suspected cases of brucellosis in cattle. The study was aimed to confirm the diagnosis of disease, determine the magnitude of the outbreak, identify the sources of infection, and institute control measures. Brucellosis suspected case wasany animal in the Koinadugu District with abortions, retention of placenta, stillbirth, the birth of weak offspring, or swelling of testicles, from February 21 to March 21, 2021. A confirmed case was any suspected case and laboratory positive for brucellosis. We interviewed livestock officials and animal owners, and reviewed clinical records to collect animals' clinical characteristics, travel history, and immunization status. Blood samples from animals with suspected brucellosis were collected for laboratory confirmation by Rose Bengal Test (RBT). We conducted active case searches at veterinary clinics and in the affected communities to identify additional cases and assessed the animal flock's environmental condition. Four Hundred (400) animals with suspected brucellosis had been reported, of which 150 were confirmed positive by RBT. All confirmed cases were female, where 135 (90%) between 1 and 2 years, and 15 (10%) were Heifers (12-14 months). Of the 150 confirmed cases, 100 (66%) were pregnant, among them, 25 (25%) were aborted. Almost half of the cases presented with vaginal discharge, retained placenta, and uterine infection. Three out of 50 cattle imported from Guinea died before being tested for brucellosis and no animals were vaccinated against brucellosis. No additional animal or human cases were reported.  We observed that fetuses, aborted materials, and sick animal carcasses were left in open places for days before being disposed. Brucellosis outbreak was confirmed in Koinadugu District. Lack of vaccination might be responsible for the high infection rate. The source of the outbreak could be the introduction of infected animals from other farms. We distributed personal protective equipment and educated farmers about the safe disposing of aborted fetuses and placentas. We recommended enforcing the existing animal import regulations and also engaging in a nationwide vaccination campaign.

DOI

10.21608/javs.2022.131242.1142

Keywords

Brucellosis, investigation, Koinadugu, outbreak, Sierra Leone

Authors

First Name

Momoh

Last Name

Massaquoi

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Sierra Leone

Email

momohmassaquoi1@gmail.com

City

Freetown

Orcid

-

First Name

Adel

Last Name

Elduma

MiddleName

Hussein

Affiliation

Field Epidemiology Training Program, Africa Field Epidemiology Network, Sierra Leone

Email

ahussein@afenet.net

City

Freetown

Orcid

-

First Name

Jean Leonard

Last Name

Hakizimana

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Africa Field Epidemiology Network, Sierra Leone Field Epidemiology Training Program

Email

leonhakiza@gmail.com

City

Freetown

Orcid

-

First Name

Kassim

Last Name

Kamara

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Field Epidemiology Training Program, Africa Field Epidemiology Network, Sierra Leone

Email

kassim10915@gmail.com

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Gebrekrstos

Last Name

Gebru

MiddleName

Negash

Affiliation

Field Epidemiology Training Program, Africa Field Epidemiology Network, Sierra Leone

Email

ggebru@afenet.net

City

Freetown

Orcid

-

Volume

7

Article Issue

3

Related Issue

35409

Issue Date

2022-07-01

Receive Date

2022-04-06

Publish Date

2022-07-09

Page Start

30

Page End

34

Print ISSN

1687-4072

Online ISSN

2090-3308

Link

https://javs.journals.ekb.eg/article_241804.html

Detail API

https://javs.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=241804

Order

4

Type

Short Communication

Type Code

1,176

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Journal of Applied Veterinary Sciences

Publication Link

https://javs.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

Investigation of Brucellosis Outbreak in Cattle in Koinadugu District, Sierra Leone, March 2021

Details

Type

Article

Created At

22 Jan 2023