SEROPREVALENCE OF BRUCELLOSIS IN SMALL RUMINANTS IN YOBE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

A serological study was conducted between October, 2019 to February, 2020 to investigate the prevalence of Brucellosis in sheep and goats in Yobe State. A total of 415 serum samples were collected from three, randomly selected Local Government Areas of the three Senatorial Districts of the State. The samples were first subjected to Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT). Positive samples were further subjected to Serum Agglutination (SAT) and 2Mercapto-Ethanol (2ME) tests. For the Ovine species, the seroprevalence rates were 9.87, 3.61 and 1.68% for RBPT, SAT and 2ME, respectively. The corresponding rates for Caprine were 6.74, 1.44 and 1.68%. Generally, SAT followed by 2ME were better in discriminating between positive and negative animals and thus reducing the chances of false positive/negative. Chi square test was used to determine significance between proportions among species, breeds and sex within RBPT and, management within SAT were statistically significant (P<0.05). Yankasa (6.26%) had higher rate than Uda (3.61%) and Balami (0.42%). The rate of 5.78% for Red Sokoto was also higher than 0.03% for West African Dwarf. It is concluded that Brucellosis is a challenge to small ruminant production in the study area. To lower the occurrence of Brucellosis in the study area, more attention should be paid to Yankasa and Red Sokoto breeds.