Brucellosis in mammals of Costa Rica: An epidemiological survey.
Abstract: Brucellosis has been an endemic disease of cattle and humans in Costa Rica since the beginning of XX century. However, brucellosis in sheep, goats, pigs, water buffaloes, horses and cetaceans, has not been reported in the country. We have performed a brucellosis survey in these host mammal species, from 1999-2016. In addition, we have documented the number of human brucellosis reported cases, from 2003-2016. The brucellosis seroprevalence in goat and sheep herds was 0.98% and 0.7% respectively, with no Brucella isolation. Antibodies against Brucella were not detected in feral or domestic pigs. Likewise, brucellosis seroprevalence in horse and water buffalo farms was estimated in 6.5% and 21.7%, respectively, with no Brucella isolation. Six cetacean species showed positive reactions against Brucella antigens, and B. ceti was isolated in 70% (n = 29) of striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba). A steady increase in the diagnosis of human brucellosis cases was observed. Taking into account the prevalence of brucellosis in the various host mammals of Costa Rica, different measures are recommended.
Publication Date: 2017-08-09 PubMed ID: 28793352PubMed Central: PMC5549988DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182644Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research article reports on a survey conducted between 1999 and 2016 on the prevalence of brucellosis, an infectious disease, in various mammalian hosts in Costa Rica and provides recommendations for controlling the disease.
Brucellosis in Different Animal Species
- The primary focus of this study is to investigate the presence of brucellosis in different animal species (sheep, goats, pigs, water buffaloes, horses, and cetaceans). This follows previous findings on the endemic presence of the disease in cattle and humans in Costa Rica.
- The researchers used a seroprevalence study method, examining the serum of the animals for the presence of brucella antibodies. These antibodies indicate whether an animal has been exposed to the bacteria that cause brucellosis.
- The findings showed that seroprevalence in goat and sheep herds was relatively low, and there was no Brucella isolation, suggesting a low level of exposure or resistance in these animals. No antibodies were detected in pigs, which implies that this species has not been exposed to brucellosis.
- Differently, brucellosis seroprevalence was higher in horses and water buffaloes, though brucella is still not isolated. Six types of cetaceans showed positive reactions to brucella antigens, making them potential carriers of the disease.
Human Brucellosis Cases
- The study also analyzed the number of reported human brucellosis cases from 2003 to 2016. A steady increase in diagnoses was observed during this period, which is a significant public health concern.
Conclusions and Recommendations
- The research recognizes the various infection rates among different host mammals, recommending different measures depending on the prevalence in specific species.
- This study could inform strategies for managing brucellosis in Costa Rica, protecting livestock health, and preventing transmission to humans.
Cite This Article
APA
Hernández-Mora G, Bonilla-Montoya R, Barrantes-Granados O, Esquivel-Suárez A, Montero-Caballero D, González-Barrientos R, Fallas-Monge Z, Palacios-Alfaro JD, Baldi M, Campos E, Chanto G, Barquero-Calvo E, Chacón-Díaz C, Chaves-Olarte E, Guzmán Verri C, Romero-Zúñiga JJ, Moreno E.
(2017).
Brucellosis in mammals of Costa Rica: An epidemiological survey.
PLoS One, 12(8), e0182644.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0182644 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal (SENASA), Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería, Heredia, Costa Rica.
- Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal (SENASA), Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería, Heredia, Costa Rica.
- Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal (SENASA), Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería, Heredia, Costa Rica.
- Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal (SENASA), Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería, Heredia, Costa Rica.
- Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje, San José, Costa Rica.
- Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal (SENASA), Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería, Heredia, Costa Rica.
- Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal (SENASA), Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería, Heredia, Costa Rica.
- Fundación Keto, San José, Costa Rica.
- Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (PIET), Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica.
- Centro Nacional de Referencia en Bacteriología, Instituto Costarricense de Investigación y Enseñanza en Nutrición y Salud (INCIENSA), Cartago, CR.
- Centro Nacional de Referencia en Bacteriología, Instituto Costarricense de Investigación y Enseñanza en Nutrición y Salud (INCIENSA), Cartago, CR.
- Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (PIET), Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica.
- Facultad de Microbiología, Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET), Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
- Facultad de Microbiología, Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET), Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
- Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (PIET), Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica.
- Programa de Investigación en Medicina Poblacional, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica.
- Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (PIET), Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica.
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
MeSH Terms
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Animals
- Brucellosis / epidemiology
- Brucellosis / veterinary
- Buffaloes / microbiology
- Child
- Costa Rica / epidemiology
- Dolphins / microbiology
- Female
- Goat Diseases / epidemiology
- Goat Diseases / microbiology
- Goats / microbiology
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- Sheep / microbiology
- Sheep Diseases / epidemiology
- Sheep Diseases / microbiology
- Swine
- Swine Diseases / epidemiology
- Swine Diseases / microbiology
- Young Adult
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
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