Seroprevalence of Brucellosis in sheep and goats in Duhok and Sumel districts of northern Iraq

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis in sheep and goat herds in Duhok and Sumel districts of northern Iraq. A total of 600 serum samples (400 sheep and 200 goats) were used and screened for brucellosis by serological method indirect ELISA test. The number of seropositive animals determined in Duhok was 12 (6.0%) and 7 (7.0%) for sheep and goats, respectively. Brucella was positive in 19 out of 300 animals, together with an overall animal level seroprevalence of 6.3%. The number of brucellosis seropositive animals in Sumel was found 15 (7.5%) and 7 (7.0%) for sheep and goats, respectively. Seroprevalence of brucellosis at an overall animal level was found to be 7.3%. In this study, brucella was positive in 41 out of 600 sheep and goat sera. The results showed that seroprevalence of brucellosis was 6.75% (27/400) for sheep and 7.0% (14/200) for goats. Systematic investigations should be conducted in these study areas in order to accurately evaluate the prevalence of brucellosis and to effectively implement eradication strategies.

Keywords: Brucella, Sheep, Goat, Seroprevalence, ELISA

DOI: 10.7176/JSTR/5-11-06