Sero-prevalence of camel brucellosis in three abbatoirs of Nothern Nigeria

A sero prevalence study of camel brucellosis was carried out in three abattoirs of Northern Nigeria during the period of October to December, 2013. A total of three hundred and eleven (311) serum samples were collected from Kano, Sokoto and Maiduguri municipal abattoirs. The serum samples were screened using the Rose Bengal plate test with positive samples further tested with the lateral flow immmnoaassay. Out of 180 camel sera collected from Kano Municipal abattoir, 4 (2.2%) were positive for Brucella antibodies by Rose Bengal plate test of which one was confirmed by lateral flow immunoassay. Moreover, on sex distribution 3 (3.5%) female camels and one (1.1%) male camel were positive. There was no significant association with sex and prevalence of Brucella antibodies (P>0.05). On age distribution, 3 (12.5%) adult camels were positive by only one young camel (0.6%) was positive. The result was statically significant (P<0.05). From the 32 camel sera collected from Sokoto Municipal abattoir, 2 (6.3%) were positive for Brucella antibodies by Rose Bengal plate test of which one was confirmed by lateral flow immunoassay. All positive samples were adult (16.7%) female (11.8%) camels. There was no significant association with sex and age of camel (P>0.05). None of the 99 serum samples collected from Maiduguri Municipal abattoir tested positive by Rose Bengal plate test. The study concluded that Brucella antibodies are present in camel and they were probably infected due to contact with infected cattle. The importance of these finding are discussed.