Exposure to Brucella spp. in Humans and Cows in a High Milk-Producing Area of Bangladesh

• Published in: EcoHealth Vol. 20; no. 4; pp. 416 - 426
• Main Authors: Shanta, Ireen Sultana, Heffelfinger, James D., Hossain, Kamal, Ahmed, Firoz, Kafi, Mohammad Abdullah Heel, Sultana, Shabiha, Tiller, Rebekah, Kennedy, Erin D., Kadzik, Melissa, Ivey, Melissa L., Islam, Ausraful, Ahmed, Syed Sayeem Uddin, Rahman, A. K. M. Anisur, Giasuddin, Md, Negron, Maria E., Salzer, Johanna S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-12-2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal Ecology; Antibodies; Brucella; Brucellosis; Cattle; Cow's milk; Cross-sectional studies; Demographics; Demography; Ecosystems; Environmental Health; Exposure; Health risks; Households; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Microbiology; Milk; Original Contribution; Public Health; Risk factors; Risk taking; Serology; Villages; Water and Health; Zoonoses; Bangladesh; Human; Bangladesh; Cow; Brucella
• ISSN: 1612-9202; 1612-9210
• DOI: 10.1007/s10393-023-01660-9

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease, caused by some species within the
Brucella
genus. The primary and secondary objectives of this cross-sectional study were to determine the seroprevalence of
Brucella
antibodies in humans and cows and identify risk factors for exposure to
Brucella
spp. among people in Shahjadpur sub-district, Bangladesh. Twenty-five villages were randomly selected from the 303 milk-producing villages in the sub-district. We randomly selected 5% of the total households from each village. At each household, we collected demographic information and history of potential exposure to
Brucella
spp. in humans. In addition, we collected serum from household participants and serum and milk from cattle and tested to detect antibodies to
Brucella
sp. Univariate analysis was performed to detect associations between seropositivity and demographics, risk factors, and behaviors in households. We enrolled 647 households, 1313 humans, and 698 cows.
Brucella
antibodies were detected in sera from 27 household participants (2.1%, 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.2–2.9%). Eleven (1.6%, 95%CI 0.6–2.4%) cows had detectable
Brucella
antibodies in either milk or serum. About half (53%) of the 698 cows exhibited more than one reproductive problem within the past year; of these, seven (2%) had
Brucella
antibodies. Households with seropositive individuals more frequently reported owning cattle (78% vs. 32%,
P
 < 0.001). Despite a low prevalence of
Brucella
seropositivity in the study, the public health importance of brucellosis cannot be ruled out. Further studies would help define
Brucella
prevalence and risk factors in this region and nationally.