Cattle brucellosis in African countries: prevalence, bacterial culture and molecular characterization of <em> Brucella abortus </em>

Abstract

Background: Cattle brucellosis was discovered in Africa at the beginning of the 20th century. It is considered an important and neglected zoonosis, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, and has a significant impact on both human and animal health. However, many epidemiological aspects of this disease remain poorly understood, especially in Africa. In particular, there is a lack of information on its prevalence, molecular characterization, diagnostic methods, and the culture of the causative agent of this cosmopolitan disease. Aim: The objective of this study was to review specific knowledge available in Africa, including regional prevalence data, molecular characterization studies of Brucella strains, and diagnostic/culture methods reported in Africa. Methods: A systematic review was conducted basedon 227 documents from the Scopus database on the prevalence, molecular characterization, and culture methods of bovine brucellosis on the African continent. Results: Analysis of the data extracted from these articles shows that the annual number of studies on the management of brucellosis is increasing, with a growth rate of approximately 1.8% per year. A high prevalence of bovine brucellosis has been observed in Somalia (56.2%), while a low prevalence has been reported in Zambia (5.55%). Despite the availability of several diagnostic methods, the disease continues to have a negative impact in Africa. Although this disease was poorly reported in the selected articles, it was noted that the causative agent of bovine brucellosis, the bacterium Brucella abortus, has seven biotypes (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 9). The most widely used serological tests for the diagnosis of bovine brucellosis are RBT and ELISA for individual and herd screening. Conclusions: Cattle brucellosis remains a major challenge; strengthening surveillance, diagnostics, and collaboration is urgently needed.