<p>Brucellosis is a world wide contagious disease of zoonotic importance in goat. The disease is characterised by abortion, retention of placenta, decreased milk yield and subsequent high rate of infertility. During last 3 to 4 decades, brucellosis in small ruminants has gained much attention because of its role in spread of infection to cattle and human beings (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib009">Rafyi and Afshar, 1987</xref>). Seroprevalence of caprine brucellosis has been reported from various parts of India and abroad (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib012">Singh <italic>et al.</italic>, 1998</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib008">Mrunalini and Ramasastry, 1999</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib010">Robles <italic>et al.</italic>, 1999</xref>). Bihar has largest number of goat population i.e. 17459 thousand (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib006">Govt. of India, Annual Report, 1999–2000</xref>), but no systemic work has been done to record the recent seroprevalence of caprine brucellosis. Thus, the present study was undertaken, to detect the prevalence of brucella in goat using various serological tests.</p><p>A total of 524 sera samples of goats collected from slaughter houses, organized veterinary hospitals and private breeders in and around Patna, formed the material for the study. The sera were inactivated at 56°C in a waterbath for 30 min and stored at −20°C for further serological examination.</p><p>The antigens for the serological tests were obtained from the Biological Products Division of IVRI, Izatnagar, Bareilly.</p><p>The different serological tests viz., rapid plate agglutination test (STAT) were performed with their respective antigens on all 524 sera samples as per the standard methods described by WHO (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib013">1967</xref>), Alton <italic>et al</italic>. (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib001">1975</xref>) and Alton <italic>et al</italic>. (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib002">1988</xref>), respectively, to know the prevalence of infection. The results were interpreted and titre was expressed in international units (IU).</p><p>Out of 524 sera samples, 28 sera samples (5.343%) were found to be positive to <italic>Brucella</italic> antibodies by RPAT and RBPT. In STAT, samples from 27 goats (5.152%) gave positive results (titre − 40IU) (<xref ref-type="table" rid="tab001">Table 1</xref>). The antibody titre in positive samples ranged from 40 to 2560 IU/ml. All the samples which were positive by STAT were also positive by RPAT and RBPT. This suggests that RPAT or RBPT can be used as a rapid screening test for brucellosis in field conditions, as also reported by Ghani (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib005">1995</xref>). <table-wrap id="tab001"><label>Table 1</label><caption><p>Results of Rapid Plate Agglutination Test (RPAT), Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and Standard Tube Agglutination Test (STAT) on goat sera samples to show the prevalence of brucellosis</p></caption><table><thead><tr><th rowspan="3">Details of sera samples examined group</th><th rowspan="3" align="center">Total No. of sera</th><th colspan="3" align="center">No. of positive samples</th></tr><tr><th colspan="3"><hr /></th></tr><tr><th align="center">RPAT</th><th align="center">RBPT</th><th align="center">STAT</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td colspan="5"><hr /></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2" valign="top">Male</td><td rowspan="2" align="center" valign="top">176</td><td align="center">5</td><td align="center">5</td><td align="center">5</td></tr><tr><td align="center">(2.840)</td><td align="center">(2.840)</td><td align="center">(2.840)</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="4" valign="top">Female</td><td rowspan="2" align="center" valign="top">348</td><td align="center">23</td><td align="center">23</td><td align="center">22</td></tr><tr><td align="center">(6.609)</td><td align="center">(6.609)</td><td align="center">(6.321)</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2" align="center" valign="top">524</td><td align="center">28</td><td align="center">28</td><td align="center">27</td></tr><tr><td align="center">(5.343)</td><td align="center">(5.343)</td><td align="center">(5.152)</td></tr></tbody><tfoot><tr><td colspan="8"><hr /></td></tr><tr><td colspan="8">Parenthesis shows percentage</td></tr></tfoot></table></table-wrap></p><p>The incidence of caprine brucellosis reported in the present study is in close agreement with that of Dessai <italic>et al</italic>. (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib004">1995</xref>), Mrunalini and Ramasastry (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib008">1999</xref>) and Shehu <italic>et el</italic>. (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib011">1999</xref>), where the recorded prevalence of caprine brucellosis were 7.6%, 7.0% and 4.75% respectively.</p><p>The sex wise prevalence of <italic>Brucella</italic> antibodies in the present investigation (<xref ref-type="table" rid="tab001">Table 1</xref>) showed 2.840% and 6.609% seropositivity in male and female goats by RPAT and RBPT and 2.840% and 6.321% male and female goats by STAT, respectively, as also reported by Kapoor <italic>et al</italic>. (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib007">1985</xref>).</p><p>Amongst different sources from which goat sera were collected (<xref ref-type="table" rid="tab002">Table 2</xref>), the highest incidence (6.91%) was observed in the goats slaughtered at different slaughter houses, followed by organized farms (5.55%), veterinary hospitals (4.87%) and private breeder/rural areas (2.14%). Singh <italic>et al</italic>. (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib012">1998</xref>) reported similar finding on incidence of caprine brucellosis from different sources, where they observed highest incidence (7.1%) in the goats slaughtered at the abattoirs, followed by organized from (4.9%) and lowest incidence (0.8%) in the village flocks. <table-wrap id="tab002"><label>Table 2</label><caption><p>Incidence of Brucellosis in goats from different sources</p></caption><table><thead><tr><th>Sl.No.</th><th>Source of samples</th><th align="center">No. of samples collected</th><th align="center">No. of samples positive in STAT</th><th align="center">Percentage positive samples</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td colspan="5"><hr /></td></tr><tr><td align="center">1.</td><td>Organised Farms</td><td align="center">126</td><td align="center">7</td><td align="center">5.55</td></tr><tr><td align="center">2.</td><td>Veterinary Hospitals</td><td align="center">41</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">4.87</td></tr><tr><td align="center">3.</td><td>Slaughter House</td><td align="center">217</td><td align="center">15</td><td align="center">6.91</td></tr><tr><td align="center">4.</td><td>Private breeders and rural areas</td><td align="center">140</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">2.14</td></tr></tbody><tfoot><tr><td colspan="5"><hr /></td></tr><tr><td /><td>Total</td><td align="center">524</td><td align="center">27</td><td align="center">5.15</td></tr></tfoot></table></table-wrap></p><p>The highest prevalence recorded in the goats belonging to different slaughter houses (6.91%) is probably due to slaughtering of majority of infertile and culled goats at different abattoirs of Bihar.</p><p>The higher incidence of brucellosis in organized farms (5.55%) as compared to village or rural flocks (2.14%) may be attributed to more density of animals in organized farms, resulting into the spread of disease by contact and contamination of environment, bedding, feed, etc. due to excretion of large number of organisms at and following parturition from infected goats (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib003">Blood <italic>et al.</italic>, 1995</xref>). Different stress factors may also contribute to increased susceptibility of animals towards infection due to release of naturally occurring corticosteroids which are strongly immunosuppressive in nature.</p><p>In the present study the presence of <italic>Brucella</italic> antibodies in the goats clearly reveals that the <italic>Brucella</italic> infection is present in the goats in the region of Bihar. Hence, keeping in view the economic and public health significance of disease, a proper control measure is required. The goat owners and attendants should also be educated the scientific managemental and hygienic practices.</p></sec></body><back><ack id="ack001"><title>Acknowledgements

IJCMIID

Indian Journal of Comparative Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases

0970-9320

Indian Association of Veterinary Microbiologists, Immunologists and Specialists in Infectious Diseases

ijcmiid-25-2-015

SHORT COMMUNICATION

Seroprevalence of caprine brucellosis in Bihar

Thakur

Sinha

B.K.

Sinha

S.R.P.

Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Bihar Veterinary College, Patna - 14 (Bihar)

7–122004

252124125

<p>Brucellosis is a world wide contagious disease of zoonotic importance in goat. The disease is characterised by abortion, retention of placenta, decreased milk yield and subsequent high rate of infertility. During last 3 to 4 decades, brucellosis in small ruminants has gained much attention because of its role in spread of infection to cattle and human beings (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib009">Rafyi and Afshar, 1987</xref>). Seroprevalence of caprine brucellosis has been reported from various parts of India and abroad (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib012">Singh <italic>et al.</italic>, 1998</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib008">Mrunalini and Ramasastry, 1999</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib010">Robles <italic>et al.</italic>, 1999</xref>). Bihar has largest number of goat population i.e. 17459 thousand (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib006">Govt. of India, Annual Report, 1999–2000</xref>), but no systemic work has been done to record the recent seroprevalence of caprine brucellosis. Thus, the present study was undertaken, to detect the prevalence of brucella in goat using various serological tests.</p><p>A total of 524 sera samples of goats collected from slaughter houses, organized veterinary hospitals and private breeders in and around Patna, formed the material for the study. The sera were inactivated at 56°C in a waterbath for 30 min and stored at −20°C for further serological examination.</p><p>The antigens for the serological tests were obtained from the Biological Products Division of IVRI, Izatnagar, Bareilly.</p><p>The different serological tests viz., rapid plate agglutination test (STAT) were performed with their respective antigens on all 524 sera samples as per the standard methods described by WHO (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib013">1967</xref>), Alton <italic>et al</italic>. (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib001">1975</xref>) and Alton <italic>et al</italic>. (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib002">1988</xref>), respectively, to know the prevalence of infection. The results were interpreted and titre was expressed in international units (IU).</p><p>Out of 524 sera samples, 28 sera samples (5.343%) were found to be positive to <italic>Brucella</italic> antibodies by RPAT and RBPT. In STAT, samples from 27 goats (5.152%) gave positive results (titre − 40IU) (<xref ref-type="table" rid="tab001">Table 1</xref>). The antibody titre in positive samples ranged from 40 to 2560 IU/ml. All the samples which were positive by STAT were also positive by RPAT and RBPT. This suggests that RPAT or RBPT can be used as a rapid screening test for brucellosis in field conditions, as also reported by Ghani (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib005">1995</xref>). <table-wrap id="tab001"><label>Table 1</label><caption><p>Results of Rapid Plate Agglutination Test (RPAT), Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and Standard Tube Agglutination Test (STAT) on goat sera samples to show the prevalence of brucellosis</p></caption><table><thead><tr><th rowspan="3">Details of sera samples examined group</th><th rowspan="3" align="center">Total No. of sera</th><th colspan="3" align="center">No. of positive samples</th></tr><tr><th colspan="3"><hr /></th></tr><tr><th align="center">RPAT</th><th align="center">RBPT</th><th align="center">STAT</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td colspan="5"><hr /></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2" valign="top">Male</td><td rowspan="2" align="center" valign="top">176</td><td align="center">5</td><td align="center">5</td><td align="center">5</td></tr><tr><td align="center">(2.840)</td><td align="center">(2.840)</td><td align="center">(2.840)</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="4" valign="top">Female</td><td rowspan="2" align="center" valign="top">348</td><td align="center">23</td><td align="center">23</td><td align="center">22</td></tr><tr><td align="center">(6.609)</td><td align="center">(6.609)</td><td align="center">(6.321)</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2" align="center" valign="top">524</td><td align="center">28</td><td align="center">28</td><td align="center">27</td></tr><tr><td align="center">(5.343)</td><td align="center">(5.343)</td><td align="center">(5.152)</td></tr></tbody><tfoot><tr><td colspan="8"><hr /></td></tr><tr><td colspan="8">Parenthesis shows percentage</td></tr></tfoot></table></table-wrap></p><p>The incidence of caprine brucellosis reported in the present study is in close agreement with that of Dessai <italic>et al</italic>. (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib004">1995</xref>), Mrunalini and Ramasastry (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib008">1999</xref>) and Shehu <italic>et el</italic>. (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib011">1999</xref>), where the recorded prevalence of caprine brucellosis were 7.6%, 7.0% and 4.75% respectively.</p><p>The sex wise prevalence of <italic>Brucella</italic> antibodies in the present investigation (<xref ref-type="table" rid="tab001">Table 1</xref>) showed 2.840% and 6.609% seropositivity in male and female goats by RPAT and RBPT and 2.840% and 6.321% male and female goats by STAT, respectively, as also reported by Kapoor <italic>et al</italic>. (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib007">1985</xref>).</p><p>Amongst different sources from which goat sera were collected (<xref ref-type="table" rid="tab002">Table 2</xref>), the highest incidence (6.91%) was observed in the goats slaughtered at different slaughter houses, followed by organized farms (5.55%), veterinary hospitals (4.87%) and private breeder/rural areas (2.14%). Singh <italic>et al</italic>. (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib012">1998</xref>) reported similar finding on incidence of caprine brucellosis from different sources, where they observed highest incidence (7.1%) in the goats slaughtered at the abattoirs, followed by organized from (4.9%) and lowest incidence (0.8%) in the village flocks. <table-wrap id="tab002"><label>Table 2</label><caption><p>Incidence of Brucellosis in goats from different sources</p></caption><table><thead><tr><th>Sl.No.</th><th>Source of samples</th><th align="center">No. of samples collected</th><th align="center">No. of samples positive in STAT</th><th align="center">Percentage positive samples</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td colspan="5"><hr /></td></tr><tr><td align="center">1.</td><td>Organised Farms</td><td align="center">126</td><td align="center">7</td><td align="center">5.55</td></tr><tr><td align="center">2.</td><td>Veterinary Hospitals</td><td align="center">41</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">4.87</td></tr><tr><td align="center">3.</td><td>Slaughter House</td><td align="center">217</td><td align="center">15</td><td align="center">6.91</td></tr><tr><td align="center">4.</td><td>Private breeders and rural areas</td><td align="center">140</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">2.14</td></tr></tbody><tfoot><tr><td colspan="5"><hr /></td></tr><tr><td /><td>Total</td><td align="center">524</td><td align="center">27</td><td align="center">5.15</td></tr></tfoot></table></table-wrap></p><p>The highest prevalence recorded in the goats belonging to different slaughter houses (6.91%) is probably due to slaughtering of majority of infertile and culled goats at different abattoirs of Bihar.</p><p>The higher incidence of brucellosis in organized farms (5.55%) as compared to village or rural flocks (2.14%) may be attributed to more density of animals in organized farms, resulting into the spread of disease by contact and contamination of environment, bedding, feed, etc. due to excretion of large number of organisms at and following parturition from infected goats (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib003">Blood <italic>et al.</italic>, 1995</xref>). Different stress factors may also contribute to increased susceptibility of animals towards infection due to release of naturally occurring corticosteroids which are strongly immunosuppressive in nature.</p><p>In the present study the presence of <italic>Brucella</italic> antibodies in the goats clearly reveals that the <italic>Brucella</italic> infection is present in the goats in the region of Bihar. Hence, keeping in view the economic and public health significance of disease, a proper control measure is required. The goat owners and attendants should also be educated the scientific managemental and hygienic practices.</p></sec></body><back><ack id="ack001"><title>Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the Dean-cum-Principal, Bihar Veterinary College, Patna - 14 for providing necessary facilities.

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