This paper originated from research on animal health and production in katavI-Tanzania
t Brucellosis is a neglected contagious bacterial diseaseofpublichealthand economicimportance.Nevertheless, its spread is not well known to many livestock farmers. Unmatched case control study was carried out to identify risk factors associated with brucellosis in cattle and goats at the herd level in Mpanda, Mlele and Nsimbo districts of Katavi region, in Tanzania between September 2012 and July 2013. A total of 138 adult respondents were selected randomly for the interview using a structured questionnaire. The criterion forinclusionwastohaveatleastoneBrucella-positiveanimal intheherdwhilethecontrolwaschosenfromamongtheherds whichtheseanimalstestednegative.Thepresenceofseropositive herds were statistically linked (P<0.1) by univariate analysis with such variables as lack of formal education amongtheherders;slaughteringofcattleorgoatsinthehousehold;thehistoryofoccurrenceofabortionintheherd;andthe historyofoccurrenceofretainedfoetalmembranesintheherd following parturition. However, in the multivariate analysis, lack of formal education among the herders and the previous history of occurrence of retained foetal membrane in the herd following parturition were significantly associated with Brucella seropositive (P<0.05). This study suggests the need forraisingcommunityawarenessontheriskfactorsassociated with the transmission of brucellosis between animals and humans and the implementation of disease prevention and control programmes.
The authors would like to thank Well come Trust through Afrique One Consortium for funding this work. We also appreciate the cooperation of Mpanda livestock officials and field officers for theirtirelesssupportduringtheconductionofthisstudyinKataviregion