Sero-Epidemiology of Brucellosis in Small Ruminants in Selected Districts of South Wollo Zone, Ethiopia

Background: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2023 to November 2023 to estimate the seroprevalence and identify risk factors for brucellosis in small ruminants. Methods: A total of 559 blood samples were collected from sheep and goats across 186 flocks. Sera were harvested and screened with rose Bengal plate tests (RBPTs), and the results were subsequently confirmed with complement fixation tests (CFTs). Districts and households were selected through simple random sampling, whereas individual animals were selected with systematic random sampling. Results: Among the 559 sera, 6.26% (n = 35) and 1.79% (n = 10) were positive for brucellosis according to RBPT and CFT, respectively. The seroprevalence was 3.29% in goats and 0.98% in sheep. Nine flocks (4.84%) showed brucellosis positivity. The seroprevalence of brucellosis significantly varied in ewes and does with vs. without a history of retained placenta ( p <0.014) or history of abortion (0.000), and between old and young age groups (0.009). However, species, body condition score, flock size, district, and the introduction of new animals to the household did not significantly affect seroprevalence ( p >0.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, the seroprevalence of brucellosis among small ruminants in the study area was low. Improving awareness among livestock owners, promoting proper disposal of aborted materials, and implementing preventive measures remain essential to decrease potential transmission.