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Review article - Peer-reviewed, 2018

Bovine brucellosis: prevalence, risk factors, economic cost and control options with particular reference to India- a review

Pratim Deka, Ram; Magnusson, Ulf; Grace, Delia; Lindahl, Johanna

Abstract

Background: Brucellosis is an economically important zoonotic disease with worldwide distribution, with low-income countries being more affected. The disease is endemic in India, a country that house the world’s largest cattle and buffalo population and produce the most milk in the world. Results: Prevalence of the disease in the country is reported as low as 1% to as high as 60% by different researchers but many of the published studies that reported higher prevalence were conducted in non-randomised samples. Based on this review, overall prevalence in the country is likely 12% or less. About 20 different risk factors are reported that contribute/ predispose to occurrence of bovine brucellosis. The risk factors could be classified in four groups: host factors, farmer’s factors, managemental factors, and agro-ecological factors. Various studies reported high economic burden of the diseases in dairy animals but there is dearth of comprehensive and rigorous economic studies. Conclusions: In the absence of highly effective vaccines and because of difficulties in executing a segregation and slaughter policy of infected animals in countries like India, control of bovine brucellosis remains a challenge.

Keywords

Brucella; neglected tropical disease; zoonosis; economic loss; disease control

Published in

Infection Ecology & Epidemiology
2018, Volume: 8, number: 1, article number: 1556548