Sero-prevalence and risk factors of human brucellosis among febrile patients visited health institutes at Awra and Gulina district, Afar Region, Ethiopia

Abstract Background: Brucellosis is an important neglected bacterial zoonotic disease that affects animals and humans for decades. The aim of this study was to determine the sero-prevalence and risk factors of human brucellosis among febrile patients visited health institutes at Awra and Gulina district of Afar region Ethiopia.Methods: A purposive cross-sectional study was conducted among 444 febrile patients visiting two health institutes in Awra and Gulina district of Afar region from February to May 2019. A 3-5ml blood samples were collected, thick and thin blood films were examined microscopically for malaria; serum was separated and tested antibody of Brucella using Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and positives ones were further subjected to ELISA. Data were entered using EpiData3.1 and analyses were performed using StataSE 14.Results: A total of 444 febrile individuals (59.5% female) of age ranging from 2-83 years (mean= 26.1, SD = ±11.8) participated in this study. The overall sero-prevalence of brucellosis was 31.5 % and 15.8% by RBPT and ELISA, respectively and 4.3% of the patients were positive for P. falciparum. Being male (AOR=2.41, 95%CI: 1.36 – 4.26, p < 0.002), drinking raw milk (AOR=15.42, 95%CI: 5.17 - 45.95, p < 0.001) and touching aborted fetus/discharges without protectives (AOR= 3.70, 95%CI: 1.61 - 8.50, p = 0.02) were independently associated with brucellosis among febrile patients.Conclusion: Human brucellosis is highly prevalent in pastoralist patients presenting with fever in this study area. Consumption of raw milk and contamination with aborted or discharge of animals are major risk factors. Hence, brucellosis should be considered as an important public health problem in this study area.