Abstract:
Bovine brucellosis is endemic in Rwanda; however, little information is available on
seroprevalence and risk factors. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted among cattle
farmed at the wildlife-livestock-human interface (n = 1691) in five districts and one peri-urban district
(n = 216). Cattle were screened using the Rose Bengal test, then the results were confirmed by indirect
enzyme-linked immunesorbent assay. Potential risk factors were determined with a questionnaire
and analyzed for their association with seropositivity. In all districts, the animal and herd-level
seroprevalence was 7.4% (141/1907) and 28.9% (61/212), respectively, 8.3% (141/1691) and 30.9%
(61/198) at the interface, and 0.0% (0/216) in peri-urban areas. Among the potential risk factors, old
age (≥5 years), cattle farmed close to wildlife, herds of cattle and small ruminants, history of abortions,
and replacement animals were significantly associated with brucellosis (p < 0.05). Low awareness of
zoonotic brucellosis, assisting calving without biosafety protection, drinking raw milk, and manual
milking were each observed in more than 21.7% of cattle keepers whose herds were seropositive.
This study confirmed brucellosis endemicity in cattle farmed close to wildlife in Rwanda, suggesting
the need to focus control efforts in these areas. Educated farmers with a high awareness of zoonotic
brucellosis had low bovine brucellosis seropositivity, which emphasizes the importance of education.
Description:
Supplementary Materials: Table S1: Univariate associations of potential risk factors with herd-level seropositivity of Brucella spp. in cattle
sampled at the wildlife-livestock-human interface in Rwanda. A questionnaire used to collect herd and public
health risk factors. Excel document containing all data on individual seroprevalence and potential risk factors.