Human Brucellosis in the Republic of Macedonia by Regions Depending on Vaccination Procedures in Sheep and Goats

Background: Besides the strategy based on test-and-slaughter policy for seropositive sheep and goats after an evaluation of the situation, vaccination measure of those animals against brucellosis with Rev 1 vaccine in 2008 have been implemented.Aims: To examine the influence of the new measure for control and eradication of brucellosis in sheep and goats on the incidence of human brucellosis before and after vaccination with B. melitensis Rev.1.Material and methods: This is a retrospective study in which comparison of the incidence of human brucellosis in the three regions has been made depending on the vaccination procedure in sheep and goats one year before the implementation of the vaccination (2007) and 4 years later. Data for the infected sheep and goats were obtained from the Food and Veterinary Agency and data for human brucellosis were obtained from the Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Macedonia.Results: The greatest decrease in the incidence of human brucellosis (from 124.3 to 19.7/100,000 inhabitants) was registered in the region 3 where mass vaccination of sheep and goats was conducted. The highest incidence rate of brucellosis in sheep and goats was registered in 2007 (2010/100,000 sheep and goats) and the lowest in 2011 (156/100,000 sheep and goats). Periodic prevalence of brucellosis in sheep and goats prior to vaccination was 6882/100,000 sheep and goats and after vaccination 3698/100,000 sheep and goats (p<0.05). There was a moderate positive correlation between the number of infected individuals with brucellosis and the number of infected sheep and goats (r=0.26).Conclusion: Decline of the incidence of human brucellosis is one of the major indicators for successfully implemented new control programs and strategies for prevention and eradication of brucellosis in sheep and goats. Vaccination was good measure to control brucellosis in the 3 regions