Sero-Prevalence of Ovine Brucellosis in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Brucellosis is a reproductive disease of livestock that is of immense economic importance. It predominates in most developing countries like India. The disease mainly causes infertility, delayed heat, disrupted lactation, and abortion, decrease of wool, meat and milk production which is of zoonotic value to humans. Brucellosis is transmitted to human through direct or indirect contact with infected animal and material or through the ingestion of animal byproducts. Sheep are natural reservoir of brucella and mainly infected by Brucella melitensis. Sheep mainly reared for wool, meat and occasionally for milk. Sheep skin and manure are also significant earning sources for farmers. The present study was carried out to know the age and sex wise sero-prevalence of brucellosis in sheep in and around Jaipur. A total number of 360 sera samples were collected from different locations of Jaipur from sheep and were tested by serological methods viz. Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT), Standard Tube Agglutination Test (STAT) and Indirect Enzyme Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay (i-ELISA). The prevalence was 3.33%, 6.67% and 10.00% by RBPT, STAT, and i-ELISA respectively in more than 3 years of age group of sheep. In less than 3 years age group the prevalence were 1.33%, 6.33% and 6.67% using RBPT, STAT & i-ELISA respectively. The study revealed 6.25% prevalence both by RBPT and STAT & 9.37% by i.ELISA in male population. In female population the study revealed 0.67%, 6.41 % and 6.75% by RBPT, STAT and i-ELISA respectively.

• Study focused on Age and Sex wise sero-prevalence of brucellosis in sheep.

• Sheep is one of the important livestock of Rajasthan.

• Brucellosis possesses a serious hazard to human health and it is also a disease in domestic animals with important economic consequences.