Serological survey for antibodies against zoonotic brucella abortus in dogs in northwestern Nigeria

A prospective study was conducted in Sokoto State, northwestern Nigeria to determine the sero-prevalence of antibodies against Brucella abortus in dogs. Sera samples were obtained from a total of 242 dogs in the study area and analyzed against a range of epidemiological variables. Objective was to screen dogs within the region for symptomatic and asymptomatic infection for Brucella abortus known to be zoonotic. Study used the Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) which is validated and previously used widely as globally standard for Brucella screening to identify dogs infected. An overall sero-prevalence of 14.9% to Brucella abortus antibodies was recorded. Out of 154 males sampled, 23 (15.6%) were seropositive, while 12(13.6%) were seropositive for female. Puppies presented 25.9% prevalence against 15.3% for adult dogs. The highest breed represented was the Alsatian where 27 dogs were sampled with 11(40.7%) testing positive. The mongrel which is a term referring to the indigenous breed in Nigeria recorded 15(12.1%) isolation rate. A total of 165 household dogs were sampled, out of which 17(10.3%) tested positive as against 77 stray dogs sampled where 19(24.7) tested positive. The findings from this study indicate that brucellosis is prevalent in dogs in the study area and carrier dogs pose grave public health danger