Seroprevalence of brucellosis in cattle in Arapai Sub county, Soroti District.

Abstract

The study was carried out to establish the seroprevalence of Brucellosis in the cattle of Arapai Sub County by analysing its distribution in. terms of sex, age, breed and parishes. By using simple random sampling, serum samples of 227 cattle from 36 herds were tested using Rose Bengal Plate agglutination test and information about the herds of cattle and demography of the. livestock Farmers were captured using questionnaires and data captured included number of cattle kept, their age, sex and then breeds, cattle management systems> abortion incidences and how the aborted materials were handled, knowledge of farmers about Brucellosis and vaccination activity done. Overall seroprevalence of Brucellosis in cattle in this sub county was obtained to be 15.4% (95% CI,11%-20%).Prevalence by sex, age, breed, parish distribution were; sex, 95% (X2= 0.429, P > 20.05: males 13,0%, C1,6.1%-23.3% and females 16.5%'t COl,1] %~23.2 %), age 95%(X =20.907 2 P>.0.0.5:<2 years- 14.9% C.1, 8,4 -23.7and >2years,15.8%- CJ, 10% -23.1%), breed, 95% (X= 6.659, P>0.05, zebu,1.6.2% -CJ, 11.2%-22.3%; crosses,10%-C.I 2.8%-23.7%; Friezian, 100% CJ, 10O% CJ, 1OO%; Ankole breed, 0.0%) and at parish level, 95 (X 20.907, P<0.05:Ankole, 18.7% -C1,11.3% -28.2%; Odudui, 8.8% -C.I 2:9%-]9%; Arapai, 435% C.J,23.2%-65.5%: Dakabela, 5.7% CJ, l.1%.-14;9%). The results showed seroprevalence by females were more infected than male, cattle >2 years were more affected than those with one month-2 years, prevalence by breed showed more infection in crosses and Friesians than in zebu but had no statistical significance whereas prevalence in the parishes produced significant statistical results (p<0.05). This results call for a need to put control measures and intensify public awareness on the zoonotic spread and impacts of Brucellosis both in cattle and humans to protect the health of both animals and humans since its disease of world heath concern.