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Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)2020; 9(9); 673; doi: 10.3390/pathogens9090673

Serological and Molecular Investigation of Brucellosis in Breeding Equids in Pakistani Punjab.

Abstract: Brucellosis is an important zoonosis worldwide. Equines are susceptible to the infection when in close contact with infected animals. The objective of our study was to update the existing knowledge and detect and differentiate the causative agent of brucellosis in breeding equines in Punjab, Pakistan. A cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate the occurrence and etiology of the infection in the equine population in three districts. A total of 448 equine sera were collected from three prefectures viz. Sahiwal, Khanewal, and Okara of the Punjab Province of Pakistan. Ninety-six (21.4%) samples were found positive by RBPT, 3.56% (16/448) by iELISA, and 4.24% (19/448) by CFT. Real-time PCR demonstrated the presence of -DNA in sero-positive samples. Age and location were found as risk factors. The study concludes equine brucellosis seroprevalence in the country where as the main etiology. Fistulous withers and poll evil cases should be treated with care as they could be hazardous and a source of zoonotic transmission. Routine screening at an early age, vaccination in ruminants, and consumption of pasteurized dairy milk in humans is recommended for prevention of the infection. Specific tests need to be standardized and validated.
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Publication Date: 2020-08-19 PubMed ID: 32825067PubMed Central: PMC7560188DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9090673Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research investigates the presence and cause of brucellosis, a highly contagious zoonosis, or disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans, in breeding equines (horses, donkeys, mules) within three districts in the Pakistani region of Punjab. It notes a significant number of these animals as testing positive for the disease, suggesting it may be a significant infection source in the area. The authors also give risk factors and recommend preventive measures.

Research Objective

  • The main aim of the study was to expand upon existing knowledge of brucellosis in equines of the Pakistani Punjab and accurately identify its cause within these animals. The researchers sought to evaluate the occurrence and etiology (cause and study of the cause) of brucellosis infection in the equine population in three districts – Sahiwal, Khanewal, and Okara.

Study Design

  • A cross-sectional study was planned and executed in which equine sera (the clear portion of the blood that could contain antibodies) were collected from the three specified districts. The number of samples totalled 448.
  • The collected sera were then tested for brucellosis using three specific methods: the Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT), an Indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (iELISA), and the Complement Fixation Test (CFT).
  • The team also used real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) methods, to verify the presence of -DNA in samples that tested positive for brucellosis in previous tests.

Results

  • Out of the 448 samples, 96 (21.4%) tested positive in the RBPT test, 16 (3.56%) in the iELISA test, and 19 (4.24%) in the CFT test.
  • The real-time PCR confirmed the presence of -DNA in those samples that were positive for brucellosis.
  • The study found the location and age of the animals as risk factors for brucellosis infection.
  • The disease was detected as prevalent in the studied region, with being identified as a primary etiological agent.

Recommendations and Conclusions

  • Based on the results, the researchers conclude that safety measures must be employed when treating equines with fistulous withers and poll evil (specific equine health conditions), as they could be a potential source of zoonotic transmission of this disease.
  • They recommend regular early-age screening and vaccination in ruminants to help prevent the infection.
  • Pasteurization of dairy produced for human consumption is advised as a further preventative action.
  • Finally, they highlight the importance of specific test standardization and validation for better disease detection and control.

Cite This Article

APA
Hussain A, Jamil T, Tareen AM, Melzer F, Hussain MH, Khan I, Saqib M, Zohaib A, Hussain R, Ahmad W, Iqbal M, Neubauer H. (2020). Serological and Molecular Investigation of Brucellosis in Breeding Equids in Pakistani Punjab. Pathogens, 9(9), 673. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9090673

Publication

Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
ISSN: 2076-0817
NlmUniqueID: 101596317
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 9
PII: 673

Researcher Affiliations

Hussain, Amjad
  • Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Baluchistan, Quetta 87550, Pakistan.
Jamil, Tariq
  • Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 07743 Jena, Germany.
Tareen, Abdul Malik
  • Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Baluchistan, Quetta 87550, Pakistan.
Melzer, Falk
  • Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 07743 Jena, Germany.
Hussain, Muhammad Hammad
  • Vance Street, Bardia 2565, Australia.
Khan, Iahtasham
  • Section of Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore Sub-Campus Jhang 12-Km Chiniot Road, Jhang 35200, Pakistan.
Saqib, Muhammad
  • Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38400, Pakistan.
Zohaib, Ali
  • Department of Healthcare Biotechnology, Atta-ur-Rehman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan.
Hussain, Riaz
  • Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan.
Ahmad, Waqas
  • Department of Clinical Sciences (Epidemiology), Khan Bahadar Choudhry Mushtaq Ahmed College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Narowal 51600, Pakistan.
Iqbal, Mudassar
  • Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan.
Neubauer, Heinrich
  • Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 07743 Jena, Germany.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 11 times.
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