Abstract

A cross-sectional seroprevalence study was conducted from February 2019 to June 2020 in Bossaso, Somalia at two livestock export quarantine stations and livestock markets. The research aimed to assess the seroprevalence and associated risk factors of brucellosis in sheep, goats, and cattle. A total of 1068 sera samples underwent screening for Brucella antibodies using the Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT). All positive serum samples from the study animals and 80% of negative samples with RBPT from sheep and goats, along with 50% of negative samples from cattle, underwent further testing using indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA). The study revealed an overall seroprevalence rate of 1 and 1.84% for brucellosis in goats using RBPT and i-ELISA, respectively. In cattle, the rates were 9.5 and 9% using RBPT and i-ELISA, respectively, while no positive samples were found in sheep using both RBPT and i-ELISA. Species and castration emerged as significant associated risk factors, whereas other factors such as age and sex exhibited no statistically significant contribution to the brucellosis status.

Key words: Ruminates, brucellosis, RBPT, IELISA, seroprevalence, Somalia.