Assessment of brucella infection status in abattoir workers and animals destined for slaughter at Dodoma modern abattoir, Tanzania

Abstract

Brucellosis is one of the most widespread zoonosis of serious public health and an obstacle to food safety and security and, socio-economic development in most African countries. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of brucellosis in abattoir workers and animals destined for slaughter; molecular characterization of Brucella species; and assess risk factors, knowledge, awareness and practices associated with transmission of human brucellosis at an abattoir setting. A total of 452 serum samples; 190, 200 and 62 from cattle, goats and humans, respectively were collected in animals and workers at Dodoma modern abattoir, Tanzania. The seroprevalence of brucellosis in cattle, goats and abattoir workers was 7.3%, 1.5% and 1.6%, respectively based on Rose Bengal Plate Test. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data for assessing the knowledge, awareness and practices as well as risk factors related to brucellosis exposure at the abattoir. Knowledge, awareness coupled with adherence to biosafety measures such as wearing protective gears minimizes significantly the risks of human exposure to brucellosis. On molecular characterization of Brucella species, an amplicon with 731 base pairs (bp) which is from B. melitensis was detected in one person working in the abattoir. The low prevalence of human brucellosis at the abattoir may be attributed to the institution of biosafety measures and training of the workers. Therefore more education on the disease to farmers, abattoir workers and general public as well as instituting control measures at the farm level and biosafety measures at abattoir setting is needed.