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Page No. : 17-20

ABSTRACT

Brucellosis is a major public health concern and various governments are working to eliminate the disease. The organism is responsible for major economic losses in terms of decreased milk yield, and other reproductive disorders. This present study was carried out at the buffalo farm which had reported consecutive abortions for the past year, the presence of mastitis, and retention of placenta cases in animals and the symptoms were suggestive of brucellosis. A total of 38 animals (consisting of 33 buffalo, and 5 cattle), and 9 humans were investigated. The samples were subjected to Rose Bengal Plate test (RBPT), Standard Tube Agglutination Test (STAT), 2-Mercaptoethanol (2-ME), PCR targeting Bcsp 31 gene. ELISA was performed for animal serum samples. Among them, 12 (25.23%), 16 (34.04%), 27 (57.45%), 16 (34.04%) and 22 (46.81%) were positive for ELISA, RBPT, STAT, 2-ME and Bcsp PCR, respectively. The occurrence was found to be 3(96.97%), 5 (100.00%) and 1 (11.11%) in buffaloes, cattle, and humans, respectively considering animals to be positive for any one of the tests. The practices performed at the farm were conducive for the survival of the organism such as improper disinfection, non-hygienic handling of aborted material and non-isolation of affected animals, screening of animals prior to introduction, and quarantine.

Keywords: Abortion, brucellosis, disinfection, Maharashtra, quarantine