Brucellosis: A Serofrequency Study in Pets and an Approach to its Relevance to Animal Health
Keywords:
brucellosis; Brucella spp.; Colombia; PARP-2ME; public health; zoonosis.Abstract
Introduction: Brucellosis is a significant global zoonosis. The risk of Brucella canis infection in humans rises with exposure to asymptomatic pets.
Objective: To determine the serofrequency of Brucella canis. and explore the factors associated with Rapid Plate Agglutination Technique with 2β-Mercaptoethanol (PARP-2ME) results on blood serum samples from dogs and cats in Medellín, Colombia.
Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive, non-probabilistic convenience study was conducted with 50 healthy dogs and 50 healthy cats, all attending elective surgery or consultations at two veterinary centers. Blood serum samples were collected for an indirect serological test (IgG anti-Brucella canis) to diagnose brucellosis. Pet owners completed a questionnaire to provide additional information. Descriptive statistics and factors associated with serological results were estimated.
Results: The 20% (10/50) of the dogs and 4% (2/50) of the cats tested positive for IgG anti-Brucella canis using the PARP-2ME test. In dogs, antibodies were associated with sex (p = 0.089) and breed (p = 0.018). In cats, age (p=0.024) was associated with the outcome.
Conclusions: This study underscores the public health risk relevance of Brucella canis infection in Colombia, with a significant prevalence of IgG anti-Brucella canis antibodies in dogs (20%) and cats (4%) of Medellín. It highlights the need to recognize brucellosis as a zoonotic risk and identifies factors linked to seropositivity, such as sex and breed in dogs, and age and hygiene in cats. The findings emphasize the importance of preventive measures and awareness to reduce Brucella canis transmission between pets and its relevance in humans.
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