The Development Of An Abattoir-Based Surveillance System In Lao Pdr For The Detection Of Zoonoses In Large Ruminants: Q Fever And Brucellosis Seroepidemiology As A Pilot Study

Simple SummaryAn abattoir based surveillance system was implemented in the Lao People's Democratic Republic to determine the prevalence of two diseases that can spread between animals and humans: Brucellosis and Q fever. A total of 683 cattle and buffalo samples were collected from abattoirs in six selected provinces between March-December 2019. Laboratory diagnostic tests to detect antibodies against both diseases were performed and the number of animals that tested positive for either disease was relatively low. However, extensive animal movement within the country was also identified, which has the potential to increase the risk of spreading disease within and between countries. Monitoring of high impact animal/human diseases assists pathogen surveillance and the country's food security. This study highlights the importance of ongoing animal health surveillance and the need to find cost-effective approaches for its long-term sustainability.Although animal health surveillance programmes are useful for gaining information to help improve global health and food security, these programmes can be challenging to establish in developing economies with a low-resource base. This study focused on establishing a national surveillance system initiated by the Lao PDR government using a passive surveillance system of abattoir samples as a pilot model, and to gain information on contagious zoonoses, particularly Q fever and brucellosis, in the large ruminant population. A total of 683 cattle and buffalo samples were collected from six selected provinces of Lao PDR between March-December 2019. Out of 271 samples tested, six samples (2.2%, 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.0, 4.8) were positive in the Q fever antibody ELISA test. Only one sample (out of 683; 0.2%, 95% CI 0.0, 0.8) tested positive to the Brucella antibody ELISA test. Seroprevalence of these important zoonoses in Lao PDR were relatively low in cattle and buffaloes; however, extensive animal movement within the country was identified which could increase risks of spreading transboundary diseases. The study highlights the importance of ongoing animal health surveillance and the need to find cost-effective approaches for its long-term sustainability.