Bacteriological investigation of sheep and goats milk for brucellosis in government farms in Northern Nigeria

Abstract

Bacteriological investigations of sheep and goats brucellosis were carried out in Northern Nigeria. Seven government or quasi-government farms were investigated. A total of 418 sheep and goats milk samples were examined culturally. Investigation revealed a 34.75 per cent and 15.88 per cent rate of infection in goats and sheep by milk ring test. Of 277 sheep and 141 goats milk samples examined culturally, brucellae were isolated from four sheep and six goats giving a total of ten isolates. Biochemical and serological studies of the isolates revealed that they were Br. melitensis indicating Br. melitensis as probably the common cause of brucellosis in sheep and goats in the areas surveyed. The results show that there was greater chance of isolating Brucella from milk which were strongly positive than from those which were weakly positive. The economic importance and public health significance of brucellosis in sheep and goats are discussed.
Keywords: Brucellosis, sheep, goats, Nigeria