Browsing by Author "Elisha, Peter"

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    Epidemiology of brucellosis in smallholder dairy cattle in Hai and Meru Districts, Northern Tanzania
    (NM-AIST, 2024-06) Elisha, Peter
    Brucellosis is an endemic zoonotic disease in most developing countries caused by a facultative intracellular gram-negative bacterium of the genus Brucella. Brucellosis is one of the six priority zoonotic diseases in Tanzania with high social economic effects. A recently upsurge of brucellosis cases under the smallholder dairy cattle farming in many urban areas in Tanzania is a public health concern. A cross sectional study was conducted between January and June 2022 to establish the seroprevalence of brucellosis and possible risk factors in smallholder dairy cattle farming in the Hai and Meru Districts. To determine the seroprevalence, blood samples were analyzed for Brucella circulating antibodies using the Rose Bengal Plate Test and Competitive Enzyme Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay. A structured questionnaire was presented to 200 smallholder dairy cattle farmers to explore the potential risk factors associated with brucellosis among dairy cattle in the study area. A total of 400 cattle were blood sampled from 10 villages in each district. The overall seroprevalence of bovine brucellosis was 0.50% and 0% for the Hai and Meru districts, respectively. Analysis of knowledge and management practices of brucellosis in the study areas showed that the majority of farmers (74.5%) knew the disease name; though, majority of them (87.9%) were not aware of the disease clinical signs. The indoor farming system mostly practiced in Hai and Meru District could have contributed to the observed low seroprevalence; thus, brucellosis free certification scheme can be implemented for continuous management of brucellosis in animals and humans as recommended by FAO.
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    Seroprevalence of bovine brucellosis and associated risk factors among smallholder dairy cattle farmers in Hai and Meru District Councils Northern Tanzania.
    (CrossMark, 2023-12-30) Elisha, Peter; Kimaro, Esther; Shirima, Gabriel
    Brucellosis is an endemic zoonotic disease caused by a facultative intracellular gram-negative bacterium of the genus Brucella. This study was carried out to establish the current status of brucellosis and possible associated risk factors in the smallholder dairy cattle in Hai and Meru District. A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and June 2022 to investigate the current seroprevalence of bovine brucellosis and possible associated risk factors in small dairy farms in the study areas. A total of 400 cattle was sampled with blood collected from 10 villages in each district. Blood samples were analyzed for Brucella circulating antibodies using the Rose Bengal Plate Test and c-ELISA. A structured questionnaire was administered to 200 smallholder dairy cattle farmers to determine the potential risk factors associated with brucellosis among dairy cattle in the study areas. The overall seroprevalence of bovine brucellosis in the study area was 0.50% and 0% for the Hai and Meru districts, respectively. Analysis of knowledge and management practices of brucellosis in the study area showed that the majority of farmers 74.5%, (149/200) were knowledgeable about the name of the disease; though, the majority 87.9%, (131/149) did not know the clinical signs. Most likely, awareness and biosecurity based on the nature of the farming system (zero grazing) contributed to the low seroprevalence; thus, none of the risk factors were associated with the disease. Therefore, under the smallholder dairy farming system, a four-stage roadmap for progressive control of brucellosis in animals and humans as recommended by FAO could be implemented with farming system modifications to eradicate the disease.