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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Equine Sci / Seroprevalence of horse (Equus caballus) brucellosis on the ...
Journal of equine science2016; 27(1); 1-6; doi: 10.1294/jes.27.1

Seroprevalence of horse (Equus caballus) brucellosis on the Mambilla plateau of Taraba State, Nigeria.

Abstract: A cross-sectional study was conducted on the seroprevalence of horse brucellosis using the Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and Serum Agglutination Test (SAT) on the Mambilla plateau of Taraba state, Nigeria where horses are reared under a free range management system on cattle farms. The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of brucella antibodies in horses as well as the distribution of the infection according to sex and age. A total of 100 horses were sampled, 25 each from four locations where horses were concentrated on the plateau: Gembu, Nguroje, Dorofi, and Mayo Ndaga. Sixty-two of the horses were males, and 38 were females. Eighty of the horses were adults, while 20 were young. All horses were reared under a free range management system together with cattle. The overall seroprevalence rate was 16 (16%) according to the RBPT and 6 (6%) according to the SAT. The seroprevalence rates were 19.40% (12/62) according to the RBPT and 6.50% (4/62) according to the SAT in the males and 10.50% (4/38) according to the RBPT and 5.30% (2/38) according to the SAT in the females. The prevalence was highest in Nguroje (8/25, 32%) followed by Gembu (5/25, 20%), Dorofi (3/25, 12%) and Mayo Ndaga (0%). Adult horses showed a seroprevalence of 18.8% (n=15) according to the RBPT and 7.5% (n=1) according to the SAT. Young horses had a seroprevalence rate of only 5% (n=1) according to the RBPT and 0% (n=0) according to the SAT. There was no statistically significance association with location, sex, and age (P>0.05). From this result, it can be concluded that brucellosis in horses on the Mambilla plateau of Taraba state, Nigeria was essentially a disease of adult horses and more prevalent in male horses than female horses. Further studies need to be conducted to determine the disease status in lowland areas of the state where horses are reared on zero grazing or are tethered and also to determine the involvement of other species and humans.
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Publication Date: 2016-04-12 PubMed ID: 27073329PubMed Central: PMC4828245DOI: 10.1294/jes.27.1Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

The study looks into the extent of brucellosis, a bacterial infection, in horses across four locations on Nigeria’s Mambilla plateau. The findings reveal that the infection is mainly present in adult horses, particularly males, but its distribution does not significantly depend on location, sex or age.

Research Methodology

  • The study used a cross-sectional design to evaluate the prevalence of brucellosis in horses on the Mambilla plateau of Taraba state, Nigeria.
  • Researchers have sampled 100 horses, 25 each from four separate locations where horses were bred in large numbers: Gembu, Nguroje, Dorofi, and Mayo Ndaga.
  • The subjects consisted of 62 males and 38 females. The majority (80) were adult horses while the remaining 20 were young.
  • The Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and Serum Agglutination Test (SAT) were used to determine the presence of brucella antibodies in the horses.

Results and Analysis

  • The overall seroprevalence rate, which indicates the presence of brucella antibodies, was 16% according to the RBPT and 6% according to the SAT.
  • The seroprevalence rates in males were higher than in females. In males, the rates were 19.40% (RBPT) and 6.50% (SAT), while they were 10.50% (RBPT) and 5.30% (SAT) in females.
  • Of the four locations, seroprevalence was highest in Nguroje (32%), followed by Gembu (20%), Dorofi (12%), and Mayo Ndaga (0%).
  • Adult horses showed a higher rate of seroprevalence (18.8% RBPT, 7.5% SAT) compared to young horses (5% RBPT, 0% SAT).
  • However, there was no statistically significant association with location, sex, and age (P>0.05), suggesting that these factors have little or no effect on the infection rate.

Conclusions and Future Research

  • The results suggest that brucellosis mainly affects adult horses and is more common in male horses.
  • While the disease does not significantly depend on variables such as location, sex, or age, it does seem to be more prevalent in some areas and in adult and male horses.
  • The authors advocate that further studies are needed to isolate the disease status in lowland areas and to determine the impact on other species and humans.
  • More investigation could help to understand whether there are differences in disease expression when horses are kept in different conditions, such as in zero grazing or tethered environments.

Cite This Article

APA
Ardo MB, Abubakar DM. (2016). Seroprevalence of horse (Equus caballus) brucellosis on the Mambilla plateau of Taraba State, Nigeria. J Equine Sci, 27(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1294/jes.27.1

Publication

Journal of equine science
ISSN: 1340-3516
NlmUniqueID: 9503751
Country: Japan
Language: English
Volume: 27
Issue: 1
Pages: 1-6

Researcher Affiliations

Ardo, Mohammed B
  • Department of Animal Science and Range Management, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria.
Abubakar, Dauda M
  • Veterinary Services Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Jalingo, Taraba state, Nigeria.

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Citations

This article has been cited 7 times.
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