Sero-prevalence of Bovine Brucellosis in and Around Kombolcha, AmharaRegional State, Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was carried out on bovine brucellosis in and around kombolcha form November 2006 to April 2007, in the Amhara Regional State. A total of 240 blood samples were collected from semi-intensively and extensively managed cattle. The Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) was used as a screening test. Those serum samples reacting positively to (RBPT) detected 9 of 240 (3.75%) of the samples as brucellosis positive. The positive sera when further retested using CFT 5 out of 9 RBPT positive sera were confirmed to be positive. The prevalence of brucellosis based on CFT in and around kombolcha was 2.08%, and all positive sera were from old aged female cattle. An attempt was also made to investigate the prevalence rate of abortion and fetal membrane retention in both extensive and semi-intensively management systems. A higher prevalence rate of abortion was recorded in extensively managed cows (10.8) than semi-intensively managed cows (2.08%). The difference in prevalence rate was statistically significant (P<0.05). A relatively higher prevalence rate of retained fetal membrane was found in extensive managed cattle (13.8%) than semi-intensively managed cattle (4.1%). The difference in prevalence rate was statistically significant (p<0.05). In conclusion, the prevalence rate of brucellosis is low in and around kombolcha. However, this low infection of bovine brucellosis may be spreaded in the study area and may cause economic loss and human infection unless control strategy should be conducted.