Brucellosis outbreak in a flock of seventeen sheep in Zaria

Abstract

This work is a case report of brucellosis in a flock of sheep in Zaria. The flock comprised of seventeen Yankasa sheep, 14 ewes and 3 rams, with history of 2 recent cases of abortion, a presented case of uterine prolapse and 3 cases of carpal hygroma (1st and 2nd sheep bilaterally and the 3rd sheep left unilaterally). Laboratory experiment was carried out using bacteriological and serological test using blood, vaginal swab and hygromal fluid samples collected aseptically from the flock. No growth on culture, but 13 of 17 (76%) sera samples from the flock were positive by Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and Serum Agglutination Test (SAT). The prevalence rate of ratio 1(0.8%) male (ram) to 12(69.2%) female (ewe) was significant (p<0.05) and the overall prevalence rate of 76% was considered to be an outbreak of brucellosis in the flock. This findings has both economic and public health significance.