Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease of public health and economic importance worldwide. A cross-sectional study using simple random and purposive sampling techniques was conducted from May 2024 to October 2024 in agro-pastoral areas of Mvomero district, Morogoro Region. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis, associated risk factors, and characterize the circulating Brucella spp., in livestock and humans. A total of 918 serum samples were collected from Mvomero district, comprising cattle (n = 339), sheep (n = 164), goats (n = 303), and humans (n = 112). Animal samples were obtained from 18 herds with mixed livestock species, while human samples were collected from four health facilities. All samples were screened for Brucella-specific antibodies using the Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT), and positive samples were subjected to competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA). Genomic DNA was extracted from the heparin-coated blood samples corresponding to the same samples that tested positive by c-ELISA for confirmation by using real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). A herd was considered Brucella seropositive if at least one animal tested positive on c-ELISA. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on potential individual and herd-level risk factors. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out using a backward elimination procedure to identify potential risk factors, following a univariate analysis, using a p-value cut-off of 0.25 from the univariable analysis to select candidate variables for a multivariable model. At the individual level, screening by RBPT revealed seropositivity rates of 9.1

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265612.].

IntroductionBrucellosis is a neglected zoonotic disease of major public health importance in Côte d'Ivoire, where it remains underrecognized in the human health sector despite prioritization under the Global Health Security Agenda. This study aimed to identify knowledge gaps among health professionals and explore the feasibility of a pilot interprofessional education (IPE) intervention to strengthen One Health collaboration for improved disease recognition and management.MethodologyThe study comprised two phases. First, a baseline cross-sectional survey was conducted in March 2024 among 54 human and animal health professionals in the Hambol region to assess knowledge of brucellosis and other febrile illnesses. Findings informed the development of a one-day IPE training workshop. In the second phase, the intervention was implemented in February 2025 with 22 participants from medical, veterinary, and public health institutions as a pilot feasibility and proof-of-concept exercise. Knowledge was measured before and immediately after training across domains including general understanding, transmission, symptoms, diagnosis, and control to assess short-term learning gain.ResultsThe baseline survey showed that 90.7% of respondents were aware of zoonoses, but only 38.8% identified brucellosis, with significantly greater awareness among veterinarians (81.3%) than human healthcare workers (23.3%; p < 0.001). Brucellosis was not cited as a cause of fever or miscarriage. Following the training, significant improvements were in overall knowledge scores (34.5 to 37.0; p < 0.005) and symptom recognition (4.9 to 5.9; p < 0.005), while knowledge related to diagnostic and control remained unchanged.ConclusionThe findings revealed importance awareness gaps among human healthcare workers and suggested that IPE is a feasible approach for strengthen One Health collaboration and improving knowledge of zoonotic disease. Larger studies with longer-up are needed to assess sustained effects on clinical practice, surveillance, and disease control in Côte d'Ivoire.

Brucellosis is a neglected zoonotic disease in most developing countries, including South Sudan. Precise identification of Brucella species is crucial for addressing public health and epidemiological concerns associated with brucellosis. The study aimed to identify Brucella species using real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) from seropositive samples that were acquired from an earlier investigation. A total of 143 genomic DNA samples were extracted from brucellosis Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT) seropositive samples from humans (n = 7), cattle (n = 103) and goats (n = 33). The samples were collected from Terekeka and Juba counties, Central Equatoria State (CES), South Sudan. The qPCR targeting the Brucella-specific IS711 insertion gene at the genus level was performed. Samples with a cycle threshold (Ct) of ≤ 35 were considered positive and subjected to further Brucella speciation assays. Out of 143 DNA samples tested for genus-specific Brucella, 15 (10.5%) were positive including 4 (2.8%) from humans, 10 (6.9%) from cattle, and 1 (0.7%) from goats. Brucella abortus was identified in 5 (33.3%) of the positive samples at the genus level. The overall individual species infection rates with B. abortus were 6.6% (1/15) in humans, 20% (3/15) in cattle, and 6.6% (1/15) in goats. There was no B. melitensis detected in this study. This study identified B. abortus in cattle, goats and humans in CES, South Sudan. The findings suggest that cattle are probably the primary reservoirs for transmission of B. abortus, with infections occurring in goats and humans primarily resulting from cattle spillover.

Bovine brucellosis, caused by Brucella bacteria, is a zoonotic disease with major public health and economic impacts, including decreased milk production and reproductive losses such as abortion. It can spread through milk consumption, posing health risks to humans. This study aimed to investigate the presence of Brucella infection in a dairy herd with a history of abortions and the risk practices associated with bovine brucellosis. A cross-sectional study, conducted from January to March 2024, investigated a dairy herd of 36 cattle, with 47.22% (17/36) identified as adult cows. Milk, blood, and serum samples were collected. Cattle over six months old (n=31) were tested for brucellosis using both the Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and competitive ELISA (c-ELISA), with both tests performed on the same samples. Brucella DNA was detected using Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) targeting the IS711 insertion sequence. Specific genes, BruAB_0168 and BMEII0466, were amplified to identify Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis, respectively. Cohen’s Kappa statistic was used to assess the level of agreement between RBPT and c-ELISA results. A focus group discussion used to assess potential risk practices associated with brucellosis focusing on abortion history, handling and disposal of aborted materials, management of aborting and sick cows, contact with other livestock and wildlife, routine health monitoring, and biosecurity practices. As the study targeted a single farm, potential risk practices were evaluated qualitatively rather than statistically. Serological testing revealed Brucella exposure in the herd, with 41.94% (13/31) testing positive using the RBPT and 74.19% (23/31) testing positive using c-ELISA. qPCR identified Brucella DNA in three out of 36 serum samples, with one sample specifically confirmed as Brucella abortus. These findings confirm Brucella infection in the herd. A comprehensive reproductive health strategy and ongoing monitoring are needed to improve herd health and reduce economic losses.

We present genome assemblies of six Brucella melitensis strains isolated from goats and humans in Tanzania's Kagera region. These sequences provide insight into circulating Brucella strains in Tanzania and East Africa. These data will support future comparative genomics, epidemiological investigations, and regional brucellosis control strategies.

Brucellosis is an important zoonotic disease among livestock and humans worldwide and in Low-and-Middle Countries (LMICs) including Tanzania. The aim of this study was to determine the factors that could influence seroprevalence of brucellosis in commercial cattle farms. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a total of 54 commercial cattle farms randomly selected in Kagera, Mara, and Mwanza regions of the Lake Zone in Tanzania. Serum samples were collected from 1,080 cattle comprising both dairy and beef animals of both sexes and tested for Brucella-specific antibodies using Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT). Positive samples were confirmed by using competitive Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (c-ELISA). Animals in each farm were randomly selected for blood collection whereby a total number of 20 adult animals from both sexes were involved in the study. Descriptive statistics and multivariable regression analysis were conducted to assess the risk factors associated with brucellosis.The overall seroprevalence of brucellosis was 6.9% at the animal level and 51.9% at the farm level. Medium scale farms Odds ratio (OR = 11.304; Confidence Interval 95% CI 1.140 – 112.108;) and small - scale farms (OR = 37.170; 95% CI 1.119 – 1235.006) demonstrated a significantly higher likelihood of seropositivity to brucellosis than large - scale farms. Dairy cattle farms were less likely to be seropositive (OR = 0.046; 95% CI 0.003 – 0.728;) than beef cattle farms. The findings from the present study indicated that more than half of the farms are positive for Brucella antibodies. The study also revealed that the scale of production and functional type of cattle increase the risk of seropositivity. The findings provide baseline information for the development of targeted intervention programme in the control of brucellosis.

Background: Brucellosis is a global zoonosis caused by gram-negative bacteria that affects a diverse array of hosts including humans, domestic animals as well as wild animals such as cattle (B. abortus), goats, and sheep (B. melitensis), pigs (B. suis), and rodents (B. neotomae), and results in financial setbacks in the livestock industry. This study aimed to identify risk factors and estimate the seroprevalence of brucellosis in cattle and rodents in Kilosa district, Tanzania. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2023 to March 2023, cattle were randomly selected and rodents were trapped using Sherman, wire cages, and havahart traps. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein and heart of the cattle and rodents, respectively. Sera were harvested from the collected blood and stored at – 20 ºC. All the sera were screened for brucella antibodies using the Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and confirmed by competitive Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (c-ELISA). The risk factors were captured using a structured questionnaire and analyzed by computing the Chi-square test and generalized linear model. Results: The seroprevalence of brucellosis was found to be 5.31% in cattle (95% CI: 0.0286-0.089) and 0.72% in rodents (95% CI: 0.0002-0.0397). A significant association was observed between grazing style and brucellosis seropositivity in cattle, with cattle that grazed together with sheep and goats having significantly higher odds of seropositivity (OR=6.5; 95% CI: 1.74-42.17, **p < 0.01). Conclusion: The detection of Brucella antibodies in both species indicates ongoing transmission and potential risk to public health. Our findings suggest that rodents may serve as reservoirs of brucellosis, contributing to its persistence and spread. Further research is essential to characterize the specific brucella species circulating among cattle and rodents and to understand the dynamics of interspecies transmission.

BackgroundBrucellosis poses serious public health implications and substantial economic losses in pastoral rural settings in South Sudan. In humans, brucellosis is almost always originating from animals. Current literature provides scant data regarding the seroprevalence of brucellosis in South Sudan. This cross-sectional study investigates the seroprevalence of brucellosis among the pastoral community and livestock and identifies risk factors for the disease from two Counties, Terekeka and Juba in Central Equatoria State (CES), South Sudan.MethodologyA total of 986 sera; from humans (n = 143), cattle (n = 478), sheep (n = 86), and goats (n = 279) were randomly collected from 17 cattle camps in CES. Sera for the humans, cattle and goats were screened for Brucella-specific antibodies using Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT) and further confirmed by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA) in series due to the cost of testing. All the sera from sheep were tested in parallel using RBPT and c-ELISA as the sheep samples were few and were all tested negative on the RBPT. A camp was considered positive when at least one animal of either species tested positive on the c-ELISA. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on potential individual and herd level risk factors. Univariate analysis using binary logistic regression with a confidence interval of 95% at a p-value of ≤ 0.05 was used to identify the association between the potential individual risk factors and Brucella seropositivity. The investigated risk factors for livestock included age, sex, species, prior abortion history, retained placenta, parity, and reproductive status. Variables found to have associations in univariate analysis (p = 0.25) with Brucella seropositivity were further included in multivariable logistic regression. The risk factors investigated for humans included, gender, age, educational level, occupation, marital status, drinking of raw milk, aiding female animals during delivery, eating undercooked meat and blowing of air into the cow's uterus through the vagina, a practice in South Sudan.ResultsThe study revealed seroprevalence of 21.7%, 11.8%, and 4.8% in cattle, goats, and humans, respectively. Our results indicated that all sheep serum samples were negative on both RBPT and c-ELISA. The seropositive in the 13 camps from Terekeka County was 100.0% (13/13) compared to 50.0% (2/4) seropositive from 4 camps in Juba County. All the variables investigated in the univariate analysis of risk factors in cattle were significantly associated with Brucella seropositivity: sex (OR:4.5, 95% CI: 2.2-8.9, p<0.001), age (OR:6.6, 95% CI: 2.3-19.1, p:<0.001), abortion history (OR:3.1, 95% CI: 1.8-5.2, p:<0.001), retained placenta (OR:2.5, 95% CI: 1.4-4.4, p = 0.001), parity (OR:2.3, 95% CI: 1.1-4.7, p = 0.020), However, in small ruminants, none of the potential risk factors were associated with Brucella seropositivity. In humans, blowing air through a cow's vagina (OR: 1.4, 95%CI: 0.782-2.434, p = 0.035) was the only variable found to be significantly associated with Brucella seropositivity in the univariate analysis. The forceful blowing of air into a cow's vagina to induce milk letdown is a common practice among the pastoral communities in South Sudan. The multivariable logistic regression model identified sex, age, and abortion history as statistically significant factors for Brucella seropositivity in cattle. The odds of seropositivity were nearly threefold (OR: 2.8; 95% CI: 1.3-5.8, p = 0.006) higher in cows compared to bulls (male cattle). Cattle over two years old had higher odds of Brucella seropositivity than young animals (OR: 3.5, 95% CI: 1.2-10.3-, p: 0.025). Cows with a history of abortion had higher odds of Brucella seropositivity (OR: 2.8, 95% CI: 1.6-4.7, p = 0.001).ConclusionThis study reports the occurrence of brucellosis in goats and its absence in sheep in (CES), South Sudan. The present study also shows the occurrence of brucellosis in cattle, goats and people in the pastoral community and recommends for the implementation of the One Health approach and awareness campaigns for effective mitigation of this disease.

Background: Zoonotic diseases are the major public health threat, with over 70% originating from wildlife. Rodents, while beneficial to the environment, transmit many zoonotic diseases such as hemorrhagic fevers, plague, tularemia, and leptospirosis, mainly due to increased agriculture and land use changes. Understanding rodent-borne pathogens is essential for effective intervention. Therefore, this study aimed to identify pathogenic and zoonotic bacteria in rodents and identify rodent species in the study area. Methods: A total of 116 rodents achieved samples (101 oral-pharyngeal and 15 rectal swabs) collected from Kibondo, Uvinza and Kyerwa were used in this study. Total RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) was extracted from each swab sample and then pooled based on rodent species, location and swab types to make twelve pools. A portion of pooled swabs were polyadenylated and used for metagenomics sequence libraries preparation. A 16S rRNA (ribosomal Ribonucleic Acid) metagenomics sequencing was performed on 12 pools by using MinIon platform in order to identify microbial diversity. Results: A total of 13 different microbial communities includinng bacteria were identified; where, 15 families of potentially pathogenic, zoonotic and bacteria of unknown zoonotic potential were also identified. These families included Mycobacteriacea, Helicobacteriacea, Enterobacteriacea, Vibrionacea, Staphylococcaceae, Nocardiaceae, Bacillaceae, Pasteurellaceae, Streptococcaceae, Campylobacteraceae, Leptospiraceae, Brachyspiraceae, Moraxellaceae, Enterococcaea, Flavobacteriacea. Potentially zoonotic pathogenic bacteria including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Vibrio cholerae, Helicobacter pylori and Vibrio parahaemolyticus are reported in this study. Conclusion: This study identifies several bacteria of public and veterinary importance, highlighting the possibility of increased risk of human infection and risk of cross-transmission between rodents, humans, and animals given the proximity between rodents, humans and animals. While no concrete evidence of rodent-to-human transmission was found, we hypothesize that rodents are a potential infection source, especially in resource-poor areas with close rodent-human contact.

BackgroundBrucellosis remains a significant health and economic challenge for livestock and humans globally. Despite its public health implications, the factors driving the endemic persistence of Brucella at the human-livestock interface in Tanzania remain poorly elucidated. This study aimed to identify the seroprevalence of Brucella infection in livestock and humans within a ranching system and determine associated risk factors for disease endemicity.MethodsA cross-sectional sero-epidemiological study was conducted in 2023 in Tanzania’s Karagwe District, involving 725 livestock (cattle, goats, sheep) from 10 herds and 112 humans from associated camps. Seroprevalence was assessed using competitive ELISA while epidemiological data were collected via questionnaires. Generalized Linear Models and Contrast Analysis were used to identify risk factors for infection.ResultsOverall seroprevalence was 34% in livestock and 41% in humans. Goats exhibited the highest prevalence (69.2%), while cattle had the lowest (22.6%). Mixed-species herds (Odds Ratio, OR = 2.96, CI [1.90–4.60]) and small ruminants-only herds (OR = 6.54, CI [3.65–11.72]) showed a significantly higher risk of seropositivity compared to cattle-only herds. Older cattle (OR = 5.23, CI [2.70–10.10]) and lactating females (OR = 2.87, CI [1.78–4.63]) represented significant risks for brucellosis in livestock. In humans, close contact with animals (OR = 7.20, CI [1.97–36.31]) and handling animals during parturition or aborted fetuses (OR = 2.37, CI [1.01–5.58]) were significant risk factors. Notably, no spatial association was found in seroprevalence between herds and nearby human communities.ConclusionThe lack of spatial correlation between livestock and human seroprevalence suggests complex transmission dynamics, potentially involving endemic circulation in livestock and human infections from multiple sources of exposure to livestock. This study highlights the need for comprehensive zoonotic risk education and targeted intervention strategies. Further research is crucial to elucidate transmission pathways and improve Brucella infection control. This includes developing robust methods for identifying infective species and implementing effective strategies to mitigate Brucella infection in endemic regions.

Background Brucellosis poses serious public health implications and substantial economic losses in pastoral rural settings in South Sudan. In humans, brucellosis is almost always originating from animals. Current literature provides scant data regarding the seroprevalence of brucellosis in South Sudan. This cross-sectional study investigates the seroprevalence of brucellosis among the pastoral community and livestock and identifies risk factors for the disease from two counties, Terekeka and Juba in Central Equatoria State (CES), South Sudan. Methodology A total of 986 serum samples from humans (n=143), cattle (n=478), sheep (n=86), and goats (n=279) were randomly collected from 17 livestock camps in CES. Serum samples for the humans, cattle and goats were screened for Brucella- specific antibodies using rose Bengal plate test (RBPT) and further confirmed by competitive enzyme linked immune sorbent assay (c-ELISA) in series. All the sera from sheep were tested in parallel using RBPT and c-ELISA. A camp was considered positive when at least one animal of either species tested positive on the c-ELISA. Univariate analysis using binary logistic regression with a confidence interval of 95% at a p-value of ≤ 0.05 was used to identify the association between the potential individual risk factors and Brucella seropositivity. The investigated risk factors for livestock included age, sex, species, prior abortion history, retained placenta, parity, and reproductive status. Variables found to have associations in univariate analysis ( p =0.25) with Brucella seropositivity were further included in multivariable logistic regression. The risk factors investigated for humans included, gender, age, educational level, occupation, marital status, drinking of raw milk, aiding female animals during delivery, eating of undercooked meat and blowing of air into the cow’s uterus through the vagina. Results The study revealed seroprevalence of 21.7%, 11.8%, and 4.8% in cattle, goats, and humans, respectively. Our results indicated that all sheep serum samples were negative on both RBPT and c-ELISA. The seroprevalence in the 13 camps from TerekekaCounty was 100% (13/13) compared to 50% (2/4) seropositive from 4 camps in Juba County. All the variables investigated in the univariate analysis of risk factors in cattle were significantly associated with Brucella seropositivity: sex (OR:4.5, 95% CI: 2.2 – 8.9, p:<0.001), age (OR:6.6, 95% CI: 2.3 –19.1, p:<0.001), abortion history(OR:3.1, 95% CI: 1.8 – 5.2, p:<0.001), retained placenta (OR:2.5, 95% CI: 1.4 – 4.4, p: 0.001),parity (OR:2.3, 95% CI: 1.1 – 4.7, p:0.020). However, in small ruminants, none of the potential risk factors were associated with Brucella seropositivity. In humans, blowing air through cow’s vagina (OR: 1.4, 95%CI: 0.782 – 2.434, p: 0.035) was the only variable found to be significantly associated with Brucella seropositivity at the univariate analysis. The forceful blowing of air into cow’s vagina to induce milk is a common practice among the pastoral communities in South Sudan. The multivariable logistic regression model identified sex, age, and abortion history as statistically significant factors for Brucella seropositivity in cattle. The odds of seropositivity were nearly threefold (OR: 2.8; 95% CI: 1.3 – 5.8, p: 0.006) higher in cows compared to bulls (male cattle). Cattle over two years old had higher odds of Brucella seropositivity than young animals (OR: 3.5, 95% CI: 1.2 – 10.3-, p: 0.025). Cows with a history of abortion had higher odds of Brucella seropositivity (OR: 2.8, 95% CI: 1.6 – 4.7, p: <0.001). Conclusion This is the first study to report occurrence of brucellosis in goats and its absence in sheep in South Sudan. Altogether, our results suggest that Brucella abortus infecting primarily cattle has spilled over to goats but not (yet) to sheep. The present study also shows occurrence of brucellosis in cattle, goats and people in the pastoral community and recommends implementation of One Health approach for effective mitigation of this disease. Author summary Brucellosis is a neglected, bacterial zoonotic disease that is caused by several species of the genus Brucella. Cross-species transmission of Brucella can occur in mixed or integrated farming systems. The disease poses serious public health implications and substantial economic losses particularly in low-income countries including South Sudan. This study was conducted to estimate the seroprevalence of brucellosis in pastoralists, their livestock as well identifying potential risk factors associated with Brucella infection. Knowledge of the seroprevalence of brucellosis and risk factors is a prerequisite towards planning an effective mitigation strategy of the disease. The study revealed high seroprevalence of brucellosis in cattle compared to goats, and the following risk factors were identified; prior history of abortion, age (old) and sex (female) significantly associated with Brucella infection. Surprisingly, sheep were found to be seronegative. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Clinical Trial "N/A" ### Funding Statement Yes ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: Ministry of Health, Research Ethics Review Board (MOH-RERB), Juba-South Sudan. Protocol No: RERB-P NO:13/14/02/2023 Institutional Review Board (IRB), Sokoine University of Agriculture Protocol no: DPRTC/R?186/16 I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes All datasets used or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Background Brucellosis is a contagious zoonosis caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella. While the disease has been eradicated in most developed countries, it remains endemic in sub–Saharan Africa where access to reliable diagnostics is limited. African giant pouched rats ( Cricetomys ansorgei ) have been trained to detect the scent of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to increase case detection in sub-Saharan Africa. Given the similar diagnostic challenges facing brucellosis and tuberculosis, we explored the feasibility of training African giant pouched rats to detect Brucella . Results After 3 months of training, rats reliably identified cultured Brucella , achieving an average sensitivity of 93.56% (SD = 0.650) and specificity of 97.65% (SD = 0.016). Rats readily generalized to novel, younger Brucella cultures that presumably generated a weaker volatile signal and correctly identified at least one out of three fecal samples spiked with Brucella culture during a final test of feasibility. Discussion To our knowledge, these experiments are the first to demonstrate Brucella emits a unique odor profile that scent detection animals can be trained to identify. Importantly, cultured E. coli samples were included throughout training and test to ensure the rats learned to specifically identify Brucella bacteria rather than any bacteria in comparison to bacteria-free culture medium. E. coli controls therefore served a crucial function in determining to what extent Brucella abortus emits a unique odor signature. Further research is needed to determine if a Brucella -specific volatile signature is present within clinical samples. If confirmed, the present results suggest trained rats could serve as a valuable, novel method for the detection of Brucella infection.

Introduction Brucellosis is a serious community health problem and endemic disease in Tanzania in both humans and animals. Frontline health workers (FHWs) play a vital role in reporting and hence prevent and control brucellosis in rural settings. This study aims to evaluate the effect of awareness training to frontline health workers and use of electronic technology (e- technology) on reporting of brucellosis cases. Methods A quasi-experimental design was implemented in two pastoral communities in eastern part of Tanzania with one as control and another as treatment involving 64 FHWs who were purposively selected from May 2020 to December 2020. A total of 32 FHWs from treatment pastoral community were purposively selected for awareness training, rapid diagnosis using Rose Bengal test (RBT) and use of electronic technology (AfyaData app) for brucellosis reporting while nothing was done in control community. Before and after training information about their knowledge, attitude and practices were collected from all participants using a structured questionnaires uploaded in the mobile phone powered by AfyaData application. Blood samples were collected from 141 febrile patients attending the selected facilities in treatment community. Serum obtained from collected blood were analyzed using RBT and Competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (c-ELISA) for brucellosis screening and confirmatory, respectively. Results from this analysis were reported back to the health facility using AfyaData app. Chi-square was used to analyze categorical variables and t-test and/Anova test was used to assess the effectiveness of the intervention. Results Results revealed that before the training majority of the participants were ignorant about brucellosis, although they had good attitude towards brucellosis prevention. Participant’s awareness, practice and attitude increased significantly (p = 0.003, p = 0.001, p = 0.032) respectively, after the intervention. Total of 17(12.1%) patients were positive on RBT and four (2.8%) were confirmed by c-ELISA. AfyaData app was proven to provide quick reports regarding brucellosis in the study area. Conclusion The training program was effective in increasing the level of knowledge and practice about brucellosis. Electronic based technology (AfyaData app) improved the reporting of brucellosis cases. There is a need for the use of electronic based technology to improve timely management of brucellosis in pastoral communities. Also, continuous training on FHWs regarding the disease is needed to improved their awareness and practices.

Background Brucellosis is listed as one of six priority zoonoses in Tanzania’s One Health strategic plan which highlights gaps in data needed for the surveillance and estimation of human brucellosis burdens. This study collected data on current testing practices and test results for human brucellosis in Arusha region, northern Tanzania. Methods Retrospective data were extracted from records at 24 health facilities in Arusha region for the period January 2012 to May 2018. Data were captured on: the test reagents used for brucellosis, procurement and testing protocols, the monthly number of patients tested for brucellosis and the monthly number testing positive. Generalised linear mixed models were used to evaluate relationships between health facility characteristics and the probability that brucellosis testing was conducted in a given month, and the proportion of individuals testing positive. Results Four febrile Brucella agglutination tests were used widely. The probability of testing for brucellosis in a given month was significantly associated with an interaction between year of testing and facility ownership. Test probability increased over time with more pronounced increases in privately owned as compared to government facilities. The proportion of individuals testing positive for brucellosis was significantly associated with facility type and district, with individuals tested in hospitals in Meru, Monduli and Ngorongoro districts more likely to test positive. Conclusions Febrile Brucella agglutination tests, known for their poor performance, were the mainstay of brucellosis testing at health facilities in northern Tanzania. The study indicates that historical data on human brucellosis in Arusha and other regions are likely to provide an inaccurate measure of true disease burden due to poor performance of the tests used and variation in testing practices. Measures to address these identified shortcomings could greatly improve quality of testing and surveillance data on brucellosis and ultimately inform prevention and control of this priority disease.

Brucellosis is among the most common bacterial zoonotic diseases worldwide. It is estimated that up to 500,000 new human cases occur each year. Brucellosis is a priority zoonosis in most East African countries. In Tanzania, the disease is one of six priority zoonoses, however, little disease burden information is available especially in children. Children are of particular interest especially in pastoral communities due to increased risk of exposure in their routine activities associated with handling of livestock and their products. This study investigated brucellosis exposure status and associated risk factors among non-febrile children in pastoral communities. A cross-sectional design was used involving a total of 361 non-febrile children of six months to 14 years old, randomly selected from households and schools. Risk practices were evaluated using focus group discussions among selected children and thematic analysis was performed. Serum samples were collected and analyzed using Rose Bengal Test (RBT) and indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (iELISA) in parallel. The overall seroprevalence of Brucella infection was 3.3% (95%CI, 2%-5%) determined by both RBT and iELISA. Risk practices observed and cited by children comprised of direct and indirect contact with animals and their products. These include: consumption of raw milk and their products, unhygienic handling of animals and their waste especially assisting cows during parturition. Girls/female respondents were more likely to test brucella positive than boys (male) respondents (2.23 OR, 95%CI 66%-754%). Brucellosis among non-febrile children in the study area was present at a relatively low prevalence. Risk practices for transmission of this zoonosis were also identified which included consumption of raw milk, contact with animals, their products and discharges including abortion materials which represent the basis for increased pathogen circulation in the area. General education on the epidemiology of brucellosis and prevention of infection spread should be provided to the community including children.

Background Brucellosis an important zoonotic disease worldwide, which frequently presents as an undifferentiated febrile illness with otherwise varied and non-specific clinical manifestations. Despite its importance, there are few reports on its awareness among frontline health workers. This study aimed at assessing the baseline knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) related to detection and management of brucellosis among frontline health workers (FHWs) namely; healthcare workers (HWs) and community health workers (CHWs). Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2019 to January 2020 in Kilosa and Chalinze districts of Tanzania. Data on demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude and practices regarding brucellosis were collected from the study participants using a structured questionnaire. Interviews were conducted with 32 HWs and 32 CHWs who were systematically selected in study districts. Chi square/fisher Exact was used to assess the association between sociodemographic variables and those related to knowledge, attitude and practices. Results Overall, a total of 30 (93.8%) HWs and nine (28.1%) CHWs from the study districts heard about brucellosis, with (34.4%) of HWs having knowledge about the causative organism. Overall, knowledge showed almost half (46.9%) HWs and (28.1%) CHWs were aware of the symptoms, clinical signs, diagnosis and control regarding brucellosis. Knowledge difference was statistically significant with HWs’ age ( p = 0.016) . Almost half (46.9%) HWs and less than quarter (12.5%) CHWs had good practices regarding brucellosis control. Almost three quarters (71.9%) of HWs and (21.9%) CHWs had positive attitude regarding brucellosis control; overall attitude was statistically significant with CHWs age ( p = 0.028) and education level ( p = 0.024) . Lack of awareness and unavailability of diagnostic tools were the main challenges faced by FHWs in the two districts. Conclusion The majority of participants were not aware of human brucellosis. Moreover, their overall knowledge was inadequate and the common practices were diagnostic tools, and adequate knowledge to manage brucellosis cases. These findings highlight the need to strengthen frontline health workers knowledge, practices and diagnostic capacities related to brucellosis.

Brucellosis is an infectious zoonotic disease considered as a threat to public health and pastoralist livelihoods. Symptoms of the disease can lead to gender-specific ailments such as abortions in women and orchitis in men. Pastoralists and their families are at high risk of contracting the disease. Access to health information reinforces existing knowledge and contributes to disease prevention. However, in developing countries, interventions for knowledge sharing on zoonotic diseases predominantly target men. This study aimed to describe mechanisms of knowledge production and transfer on brucellosis according to gender, by assessing the way knowledge affects behaviours of pastoral communities. A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among a pastoral community (PC) of the Folon region in north-west Côte d’Ivoire. The study included transhumant pastoralists, sedentary livestock owners, shepherds and their wives. By using mixed methods, 26 semi-structured interviews were conducted, and 320 questionnaires were completed. Statistical analysis with chi-square ( χ 2 ) comparison tests was performed to compare variables between men and women. Findings were interpreted through the concept of specialisation of the social exclusion theory. We found that gender influences access to information on brucellosis and transfer of knowledge on brucellosis appeared gender-biased, especially from veterinarians towards men in the community. The social labour division and interventions of veterinarians through awareness reinforce the knowledge gap on brucellosis between men and women. Men and women consume raw milk, whilst only men in general handle animal discharges with bare hands. To improve the control of brucellosis, knowledge on best practice should be shared with pastoral communities using the One Health approach that encourages mutual learning. Innovative strategies based on gender daily tasks such as safe dairy processing by women and safe animal husbandry to expand their herd for men can be the entry point for the prevention of brucellosis.

Transboundary pathogens pose a threat to livelihood security in countries such as Zambia and Tanzania. This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV), foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV), sheep and goat pox virus (SGPV), Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) and Brucella spp. in sheep and goats along the Tanzania-Zambia border. Another aim was to assess the association between certain predictor variables and seroprevalence, focusing on trade and proximity to an international border, to a town and to the Tanzania-Zambia highway. During September-October 2018, 486 serum samples from small ruminants in Zambia and 491 in Tanzania were collected and analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). A questionnaire focused on management strategies was administered to each household. The animal-level seroprevalence in Zambia was 0.21% [95% confidence interval (CI) (0.01-1.14) for PPRV, 1.03% (95% CI 0.33-2.39) for FMDV, 0% (95% CI 0-0.76) for SGPV, 2.26% (95% CI 1.14-4.01) for RVFV and 1.65% (95% CI 0.71-3.22) for Brucella spp.]. In Tanzania, animal-level seroprevalence was 2.85% (95% CI 1.57-4.74) for PPRV, 16.9% (95% CI 13.7-20.5) for FMDV, 0.20% (95% CI 0.01-1.13) for SGPV, 3.26% (95% CI 1.87-5.24) for RVFV and 20.0% (95% CI 14.5-26.5) for Brucella spp. For PPRV (OR 6.83, 95% CI 1.37-34.0, p = 0.019) and FMDV (OR 5.68, 95% CI 1.58-20.3, p = 0.008), herds situated more than 30 km from an international border were more likely to be seropositive, while being located 10-30 km (OR 4.43, 95% CI 1.22-16.1 p = 0.024) from a border was identified as a risk factor for Brucella spp. For FMDV (OR 79.2, 95% CI 4.52-1388.9, p = 0.003), being situated within 30 km from a town was associated with seropositivity. Furthermore, contact with wild ruminants (OR 18.2, 95% CI 1.36-244), and the presence of sheep in the household (OR 5.20, 95% CI 1.00-26.9, p = 0.049), was associated with seropositivity for PPRV, and FMDV. No significant associations between trade or distance to the Tan-Zam highway and seroprevalence were found. We recommend that the impact of trade and proximity to borders, towns and roads should be further evaluated in larger studies, ideally incorporating aspects such as temporal trade fluctuations.

Mali has a high pastoral potential with diverse coexisting production systems ranging from traditional (nomadic, transhumant, sedentary) to commercial (fattening and dairy production) production systems. Each of those systems is characterised by close interactions between animals and humans, increasing the potential risk of transmission of zoonotic diseases. The nature of contact network suggests that the risks may vary according to species, production systems and behaviors. However, the study of the link between small ruminants and zoonotic diseases has received limited attention in Mali. The objective of this study was to assess brucellosis seroprevalence and determine how the husbandry systems and human behaviour expose animal and human to infection risk. A cross-sectional study using cluster sampling was conducted in three regions in Mali. Blood was collected from 860 small ruminants. The sera obtained were analysed using both Rose Bengal and cELISA tests. In addition, 119 farmers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire in order to identify the characteristics of farms as well as the risk behaviors of respondents. Husbandry systems were dominated by agro-pastoral systems followed by pastoral systems. The commercial farms (peri-urban and urban) represent a small proportion. Small ruminant individual seroprevalence was 4.1% [2.8-5.6% (95% CI)]. Herd seroprevalence was estimated at 25.2% [17.7-33.9% (95% CI)]. Peri-urban farming system was more affected with seroprevalence of 38.1% [18.1-61.5 (95% CI)], followed by pastoral farming system (24.3% [11.7-41.2 (95% CI)]). Identified risk behaviors of brucellosis transmission to animals were: exchange of reproductive males (30.2%); improper disposal of placentas in the farms (31.1%); and keeping aborted females in the herd (69.7%). For humans, risk factors were: close and prolonged contact with animals (51.2%); consumption of unpasteurized dairy products (26.9%); and assisting female animals during delivery without any protection (40.3%). This study observed a high seroprevalence of brucellosis in small ruminants and also identified risky practices that allow cross transmission between the two populations. This calls for control strategy using a multi-sectoral and multidimensional approach.