ABSTRACT
Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease associated with significant morbidity leading to increased rates of spontaneous abortions in livestock and also poses a serious human health hazard. This study sought to determine the prevalence of brucellosis in sheep and goats kept in homes in Zaria town and also to assess the knowledge and practice, of the animal owners, on prevention and control of brucellosis. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in Zaria town, Kaduna State, Northern Nigeria, between February, 2013 and April, 2013. The study population consisted primarily of sheep and goats kept in homes and secondarily of the animal owners in Zaria town. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select animals for the study. A total of 52 houses that reared sheep and or goats were selected. From each selected house, a systematic random sampling technique was used to select the animal for the survey. Structured questionnaires were used to capture all information related to the animals and bio-data, knowledge and practice of animal owners. The 208 sampled animals were screened for Brucella using the Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and Serum Agglutination Test (SAT). All data from the survey were double-entered into and analysed using Epi-Info 3.5.3 and Microsoft excel 2007. Frequencies, proportions, prevalence rates, prevalence ratio and Chi square test at significance level of P <0.05 were also determined. Out of the 208 animals sampled, 171 (82.2%) were females and 156 (57.2%) were sheep. Of all animals screened, 35 (16.8%) were sero-positive for Brucella, 27 (77.1%) of them being females. All animals that were positive were those reared under the free range system of farming. Of the two species, the sero-prevalence of Brucella was higher in goats (17.9%) and also higher among the age groups > 24months to 36months . Out of the 52 animal owners, 80.7% of them were males while majority (55.8%) of them were between 30 to 40 years of age and 32.7% had no formal viii education. On their occupation, 92.4% of them reared animals for income, while 52.0% practiced free range farming system. Fifty-five percent (55%) of the owners do not know what zoonosis is, 27% and 18% know what brucellosis and tuberculosis are respectively. Also 54% believed that transmission of diseases from animal to humans is by contact, 14% do not know the mode of transmission. The study indicated that Brucella infection exists among sheep and goats kept in homes in Zaria town. Its prevalence is higher in free range animals. There is also a relatively low awareness of brucellosis among the animal owners. There is therefore the need to embark on control and prevention of Brucellosis among small ruminants in Zaria town in order to reduce risky zoonotic transmission to humans.