Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2018). 16 (2): 193–203 ISSN: 1729-7893 (Print), 2308-0922 (Online) Received: 09-09-2018, Accepted: 15-12-2018 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33109/bjvmjd1805 Economic impact of caprine and ovine brucellosis in Mymensingh district, Bangladesh B. S. Ahmed1, 2, M. G. Osmani2, A. K. M. A. Rahman1, M. M. Hasan1, A. A. Maruf1, M. F. Karim1, S. M. A. Karim3, M. Asaduduzzaman4, M. R. Hasan5, M. M. Rahman6, M. S. Rahman1* 1Department of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh. 2Department of Livestock services, Dhaka, Bangladesh. 3RV & F Depot, Savar Cantonment, Dhaka. 4Military Farm Savar, Savar Cantonment, Dhaka. 5Military Farm Trishal, Mymensingh Cantonment, 6Bangladesh Military Academy, Chittagong. Abstract Background Brucellosis is one of the ancient re-emerging zoonotic diseases which play a significant economic impact on public health and livestock sector. Many studies were carried out on the epidemiology of the disease recently but economic importance was not focused on those studies. This study was conducted to determine the true prevalence and economic impact of caprine and ovine brucellosis in Mymensingh district, Bangladesh. Methods A cross-sectional epidemiologic study covering all upazilas of Mymensingh district, Bangladesh was conducted during the period from January to December, 2016. The data related to age, sex, abortion record and reproduction disorders were also collected on the sampling day using a questionnaire. Blood samples (n=2593) were collected from randomly selected native goat and sheep where Rose Bengal Test, Rapid Brucella AB test kit and MAb-ELISA (Monoclonal antibody based blocking Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) were used to identify the positive reactors. Results The prevalence of caprine and ovine brucellosis was estimated to be 1.6% whereas it was found to be 1.56% and 1.64 % in goats and sheep respectively. The prevalence data was incorporated to the economic model to quantify the financial loss due to brucellosis. The total losses attributed to the disease was 48436400 taka (605455 US$) annually in the district whereas 46462900 taka (580786.25 US$) and 1973500 taka (24668.75 US$) in goat and sheep respectively. Conclusions The study concluded that brucellosis silently constitutes economic loss to the economy of the country and the producers due to insufficient knowledge and inadequate diagnostic facilities, lack of awareness and an effective prevention and control strategy. Key words: Brucellosis, economic loss, sheep, goat, prevalence, Mymensingh *Correspondence: [email protected] All right reserved 0425/2018 Copyright © 2018 Bangladesh Society for Veterinary Medicine. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Ahmed and others Introduction and retained placenta cases are observed due to Brucellosis is enlisted as the second leading inadequate diagnostic facilities and thought to be zoonotic infection followed by rabies by the down to brucellosis which could have a Office International des Epizooties and classifies significant impact on the development of risk group III in laboratory biosafety manual of livestock in Bangladesh (Rahman et al., the World Health Organization. This disease is 2011b).Important factors that contribute to the considered to be an occupational disease that spread of brucellosis in goat and sheep are mainly affects slaughter-house workers, butchers, existing farming system and practices, farm livestock producers, shepherds, farmers, sanitation, livestock movement, mixing and veterinarians, and laboratory technicians trading of animals, and sharing of grazing (Behzadi and Mogheiseh, 2011; Rahman et al., grounds and watering points (Kabagambe et al., 2012). 2001; Kadohira, 1997; Omer, 2000). Brucellosis causes severe economic losses as Brucellosis is not a notifiable disease in result of stormy abortions in small ruminants or Bangladesh and was first serologically reproductive failure, sterility and reduced milk investigated in goat (1983), in sheep (2007). It is production rates as well as lost trade by denying endemic in Bangladesh but yet vaccination and exportation of sheep to international markets and control measure against this disease is not reduces the Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEE). performed (Amin et al., 2005; Rahman et al., As a result the disease adds to the burden 2006; Uddin and Rahman, 2007; Das et al., 2008; shouldered by the farmers in developing world Nahar and Ahmed, 2009; Rahman et al., 2009, (McDermott, 2013; Angara and Ali, 2014). 2010, 2011; Ahasan et al., 2010; Muhammad et Female goats were considered to be potential al, 2010). A variable seroprevalence ranged from source of infections and infected excreted 1.0 to 6.2% were reported (Uddin et al., 2007; materials are the causes of transmission through Islam et al., 2010; Rahman et al., 2011a; 2013; contacts following abortion or full-term Akhter et al., 2014). Exceptionally higher parturition. Mammary gland may also infected in seroprevalence (14.5%) was reported in just one sheep and goats resulting mastitis, characterized study in goat (Rahman et al., 1988). The by multinodular firmness with watery, clotted prevalence recorded in sheep were 1.2% to 9.8% milk commonly observed feature of caprine (Uddin et al., 2007; Rahman et al., 2011a,b; brucellosis compared with bovine brucellosis 2013; Ahsan et al., 2014; Akhter et al., 2014) of (Cutler et al., 2005). Goats may responsible for which highest prevalence (9.8%) was recorded in prolong excretion of organisms in milk but less in Mymensingh and Netrokona regions (Ahsan et sheep (Poester et al., 2013). It has been reported al., 2014; Akhter et al., 2014). that intermittent shedding usually observed when infected goats survive as persistent reservoir after Goats and sheep are important livestock resource one abortion or parturition (ECSCAHAW, 2001). which give more production per unit of Brucella ovis is also an important cause of investment, have younger slaughter age and have orchitis and epididymitis in sheep but it is not well established market (Prasad, 2004). recognized as a cause of natural infection in goats Bangladesh has the third highest population of (Jacques, 1998). Disease transmission chance goats among the Asiatic countries which accounts potentially increases when keeping sheep in for about 34.5 million heads representing 57% of contact with goats or get together in parturition or total ruminant livestock (FAO, 2003) of which at night as ovine animal’s behavior and it is also a 98% is distributed in the rural areas (BBS, 1986). risk factor for brucellosis (Coelhoa et al., 2013). During the last 12 years, sheep population In relation to age and sex, adults were more increased 2.5 times, with annual growth rate positive than young and female were more of 5% (BBS, 2008). Considering the socio- susceptible than male (3.8%) (Gani et al., 2016). economic and climatic condition of Bangladesh, In field, a lot of undiagnosed abortion, stillbirth rearing of Black Bengal goat is more suitable 194 Economic impact of caprine and ovine brucellosis than other breeds and recognized as best goat Agricultural University, Mymensingh for serum breed including fourth largest goat repository in separation and serological tests. About 5 ml blood the world (Report KIB, 2018). Each year 127,000 was collected from jugular vein of each of the metric ton representing 25% of total red meat in selected goat (n=1847) and sheep (n=746) in Bangladesh is produced from goat. Mutton export separate sterilized test tubes and kept in has been started from 2013-14 (Annual report refrigerator overnight. Then the serum was 2016-2017, DLS). In this circumstance, centrifuged at 2500 rpm for 8-10 min to obtain brucellosis may be able to impair the growing clear sera free from blood cells. Finally, sera were economic market. Food and Agriculture transferred into a sterilized eppendorf tube and Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and stored at −20°C until used. the Organization of Animal Health (OIE) considered brucellosis as a barrier to trade of Serological tests animals and animal products as well as public Rose Bengal test (RBT) as described by Alton et health implications (WHO, 1997; Fitcht, 2003). al. (1988) and Rapid Brucella AB test kit (chromatographic Immunoassay) were performed This study was conducted to determine the as per manufacturer instruction to determine the prevalence and economic impact of caprine and presence of antibodies against Brucella antigens. ovine brucellosis in Mymensingh district, RBT positive sera were screened by MAb-ELISA Bangladesh. (MAb based blocking Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Bru Alert®, TRPVB, Material and Methods CAHS, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Ethical Approval Science University, Chennai) according to the All essential procedures of sample collections protocol and reading was performed by were performed maintaining the human consent automated ELISA reader. and animal welfare. Interpretation The Study Area All degree of agglutination was considered as Mymensingh is 5th largest districts of Bangladesh positive reaction. In case of brucella AB test kit situated in the north. It is also the largest district the presence of two purple color bands within the of Dhaka division. The Geo position of result window means positive. The prevalence of