Sains Malaysiana 46(6)(2017): 933–943

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2017-4606-13

 

Seroprevalence of Brucellosis among Farmers and Veterinary Technical Staff in Peninsular Malaysia

(Seroprevalens Bruselosis dalam Kalangan Peladang dan Kakitangan Teknikal Veterinar di Semenanjung Malaysia)

P.H. BAMAIYI¹, L. HASSAN¹*, S. KHAIRANI-BEJO¹, M. ZAINALABIDIN², A. ADZHAR³, N. MOKHTAR³, M. RAMLAN⁴, P. CHANDRAWATHANI⁴, N. HAMIDAH⁵, N. ABDULLAH⁶, A.M. HUSNA MAIZURA⁷ & B.V. KHEBIR⁸

 

¹Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

 

²Department of Agribusiness and Information System, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

 

³Department of Veterinary Services, 62630 Putrajaya, Federal Territory, Malaysia

 

⁴Veterinary Research Institute, 31400 Ipoh, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia

 

⁵Department of Veterinary Services, 40630 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

 

⁶Department of Veterinary Services, 71770 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus, Malaysia

 

⁷Disease Control Division, Zoonosis Section, Ministry of Health, 62590 Putrajaya, Federal Territory, Malaysia

 

⁸Department of Public Health, School of Allied Health Sciences, Kampala International University, Western Campus, Uganda

 

Received: 3 March 2016/Accepted: 7 November 2016

 

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with brucellosis in farmers, veterinary technical staff and other volunteers in Peninsular Malaysia using the One Health concept. A cross sectional study design was employed to sample a population of farmers and Veterinary technical staff on a volunteer basis. The Brucella Coombs test was used to elucidate the seroprevalence of brucellosis in the sampled population and the associated factors and predictors for brucellosis. The seroprevalence of brucellosis among farmers and non-farmers (veterinary technical staff and others) of 446 people studied was 1.35% (95% CI=0.28-2.42). Occupation, age and drinking unpasteurized milk were significant risk factors for brucellosis using multivariate logistic regression at 90% confidence level. The odds of having brucellosis increased by 7.19 times in farmers compared to non-farmers (90% CI=1.16, 44.71), it increased 7.16 times in individuals 40 years and below compared with those above 40 years old (90% CI=1.16, 44.41) and 4.45 times among those who drink unpasteurized milk compared to those who do not (90% CI= 1.03, 19.15). This study highlights the current state of human brucellosis in Malaysia among those groups that are occupationally at risk. A nationwide health education of the occupationally exposed population especially farmers may decrease the incidence of the infection and support the on-going eradication efforts of brucellosis in Malaysia.

 

Keywords: Brucellosis; farmers; Malaysia; seroprevalence; veterinary staff

 

ABSTRAK

Satu kajian telah dijalankan untuk menentukan seroprevalens dan faktor risiko kaitan antara bruselosis dalam kalangan peladang, pekerja teknikal veterinar dan sukarelawan di Semenanjung Malaysia menggunakan konsep One Health. Kajian keratan lintang digunakan untuk persampelan dalam populasi peladang dan pekerja teknikal veterinar secara sukarela. Ujian Coombs bagi Brucella digunakan untuk menjelaskan seroprevalens bruselosis dalam kalangan sampel dan kaitan antara faktor dan ramalan untuk bruselosis. Seroprevalens bagi bruselosis dalam kalangan peladang dan bukan peladang (pekerja teknikal veterinar dan sukarelawan) yang berjumlah 446 orang ialah 1.35% (95% CI=0.28-2.42). Pekerjaan, umur dan minum susu yang tidak dipasteur merupakan faktor risiko yang signifikan bagi bruselosis apabila diuji dengan regrasi logistik multivarian pada aras keyakinan 90%. Ramalan untuk mendapat bruselosis meningkat sebanyak 7.19 kali dalam kalangan peladang berbanding bukan peladang (90% CI=1.16, 44.41) dan 4.45 kali dalam kalangan mereka yang minum susu yang tidak dipasteur berbanding dengan yang tidak minum susu (90% CI= 1.03, 19.15). Kajian ini menggambarkan keadaan semasa kejadian bruselosis dalam kalangan pekerja yang terlibat dengan perladangan. Pendidikan kesihatan perlu dijalankan dalam kalangan pekerja terutamanya peladang agar dapat menurunkan kadar jangkitan penyakit di samping sokongan berterusan dalam usaha pembanterasan bruselosis di Malaysia.

 

Kata kunci: Bruselosis; kakitangan veterinar; Malaysia; petani; seroprevalens

REFERENCES

 

Ahmad, A. 1999. Participation of Malaysian women in Development. In Empowering Women: Key to Third World Development, edited by Samanta, R.K. New Delhi: M.D. Publications. pp. 33-68.

Ahmad, R., Naz, N.A. & Freeha. 1999. Brucella infection in humans. Pakistan Veterinary Journal 19(1): 1999.

AL-Khafaji, J.K.T. 2003. Brucellosis among human populations in AL-Musaib district, Babylon province/Iraq. AL-Mustansiryia Science Journal 14(1): 1-5.

Al-Majali, A.M. & Shorman, M. 2009. Childhood brucellosis in Jordan: Prevalence and analysis of risk factors. International Journal of Infectious Diseases 13(2): 196-200.

Al-Shamahy, H., Whitty, C. & Wright, S. 2000. Risk factors for human brucellosis in Yemen: A case control study. Epidemiology and Infection 125(2): 309-313.

Al-Sultan, I.I., Ali, T.I. & Ibrahim, O.E. 2011. Incidental occurence and risk factors of brucellosis in teaching hospital. Journal of Advanced Medical Research 1(1): 1-7.

Alston, M. 1995. Women and their work on Australian farms. Rural Sociology 60(3): 521-532.

Angulo, F.J., LeJeune, J.T. & Rajala-Schultz, P.J. 2009. Unpasteurized milk: A continued public health threat. Clinical Infectious Diseases 48(1): 93-100.

Anon. 2011. Malaysia: Livestock Pupulation 2005-2010. Vol. 2011, Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Putrajaya, Malaysia.

Anonymous. 2011. Brucellosis remains unseen in Taiwan for 33 years; Taiwan CDC confirms two imported cases of brucellosis within two weeks. Vol. 2012, Center for Disease Control, R.O.C. (Taiwan), Center for Disease Control, R.O.C. (Taiwan).

Arica, V., Şilfeler, İ., Arica, S., Tutanç, M., Motor, V. & İnci, M. 2012. Brucellosis with very high ferritin levels: Report of five cases. Human & Experimental Toxicology 31(1): 104-106.

Bamaiyi, P.H. 2016. Prevalence and risk factors of brucellosis in man and animals-a review. International Journal of One Health 2: 29-34.

Bamaiyi, P.H., Hassan, L., Khairani-Bejo, S. & Zainal, M.A. 2014. Updates on brucellosis in Malaysia and southeast Asia. Malaysian Journal of Veterinary Research 5(1): 71-82.

Bamaiyi, P.H., Hassan, L., Khairani-Bejo, S., Zainal, M.A., Ramlan, M., Krishnan, N., Adzhar, A., Abdullah, N., Hamidah, N.H.M., Norsuhanna, M.M. & Hashim, S.N. 2012. Isolation and molecular characterization of Brucella melitensisfrom seropositive goats in Peninsula Malaysia. Tropical Biomedicine 29(4): 513-518.

Bikas, C., Jelastopulu, E., Leotsinidis, M. & Kondakis, X. 2003. Epidemiology of human brucellosis in a rural area of north-western Peloponnese in Greece. Eur. J. Epidemiol. 18(3): 267-274.

Bunnell, T. 2004. Malaysia, Modernity and the Multimedia Super Corridor: A Critical Geography of Intelligent Landscapes. London & New York: Routledge.

Casao, M.A., Navarro, E. & Solera, J. 2004. Evaluation of Brucellacapt for the diagnosis of human brucellosis. Journal of Infection 49(2): 102-108.

Chahota, R., Sharma, M., Katoch, R., Verma, S., Singh, M., Kapoor, V. & Asrani, R. 2003. Brucellosis outbreak in an organized dairy farm involving cows and in contact human beings, in Himachal Pradesh, India. Veterinarski Arhiv73(2): 95-102.

Danprachankul, S., Chiewchanyont, B., Appassakij, H. & Silpapojakul, K. 2011. Brucellosis as an emerging disease in Thailand: A report of three cases with review of literatures. Journal of Health Science 18(5): 643-649.

Dawood, H.A. 2008. Brucellosis in Camels (Camelus dromedorius) in the south province of Jordan. American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences 3(3): 623- 626.

Dixon, R.B. 1982. Women in agriculture: Counting the labor force in developing countries. Population and Development Review 8(3): 539-566.

Earhart, K., Vafakolov, S., Yarmohamedova, N., Michael, A., Tjaden, J. & Soliman, A. 2009. Risk factors for brucellosis in Samarqand Oblast, Uzbekistan. International Journal of Infectious Diseases 13(6): 749-753.

El Sherbini, A., Kabbash, I., Schelling, E., El Shennawy, S., Shalapy, N., Elnaby, G.H., Helmy, A.A. & Eisa, A. 2007. Seroprevalences and local variation of human and livestock brucellosis in two villages in Gharbia Governorate, Egypt. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 101(9): 923-928.

Galanakis, E., Bourantas, K.L., Leveidiotou, S. & Lapatsanis, P.D. 1996. Childhood brucellosis in north-western Greece: A retrospective analysis. European Journal of Pediatrics 155(1): 1-6.

Garin-Bastuji, B., Blasco, J.M., Marín, C. & Albert, D. 2006. The diagnosis of brucellosis in sheep and goats, old and new tools. Small Ruminant Research 62(1-2): 63-70.

Gur, A., Geyik, M.F., Dikici, B., Nas, K., Cevik, R., Sarac, J. & Hosoglu, S. 2003. Complications of brucellosis in different age groups: A study of 283 cases in southeastern Anatolia of Turkey. Yonsei Medical Journal 44(1): 33-44.

Hadjichristodoulou, C., Soteriades, E., Goutzianna, G., Loukaidou, M., Babalis, T., Antoniou, M., Delagramaticas, J. & Tselentis, Y. 1999. Surveillance of brucellosis in a rural area of Greece: Application of the computerised mapping programme. Eur. J. Epidemiol. 15(3): 277-283.

Hassanain, N.A. & Ahmed, W.M. 2012. Sero-prevalence of brucellosis in Egypt with emphasis on potential risk factors. World Journal of Medical Sciences 7(2): 81-86.

Jama’ayah, M.Z., Heu, J.Y. & Norazah, A. 2011. Seroprevalance of brucellosis among suspected cases in Malaysia. Malaysian J. Pathol. 33(1): 31-34.

Jelastopulu, E., Bikas, C., Petropoulos, C. & Leotsinidis, M. 2008. Incidence of human brucellosis in a rural area in Western Greece after the implementation of a vaccination programme against animal brucellosis. BMC Public Health 8(1): 241.

John, K., Fitzpatrick, J., French, N., Kazwala, R., Kambarage, D., Mfinanga, G.S., MacMillan, A. & Cleaveland, S. 2010. Quantifying risk factors for human Brucellosis in rural Northern Tanzania. PLoS One 5(4): e9968.

Kalimuddin, S., Seow, C.J., Barkham, T., Deepak, R.N., Li, L. & Tan, T.T. 2010. Hidden health risks of the Hajj - A report of two cases of brucellosis contracted by pilgrims during the Hajj. Scand. J. Infect. Dis. 42(3): 228-230.

Kassiri, H., Amani, H. & Lotfi, M. 2013. Epidemiological, laboratory, diagnostic and public health aspects of human brucellosis in western Iran. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 3(8): 589-594.

Khairani-Bejo, S., Ardhy-Ardnan & Bahaman, A.R. 2006. Investigation of canine Brucellosis in Klang Valley Malaysia. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances 5(1): 42-44.

Kozukeev, T.B., Ajeilat, S., Maes, E. & Favorov, M. 2006. Risk factors for Brucellosis in Leylek and Kadamjay Districts, Batken Oblast, Kyrgyzstan, January-November, 2003. CDC MMWR 55(SUP01): 31-34.

Lopes, L.B., Nicolino, R. & Haddad, J.P.A. 2010. Brucellosis - Risk factors and prevalence: A review. The Open Veterinary Science Journal 4: 72-84.

Makita, K., Fèvre, E.M., Waiswa, C., Eisler, M.C. & Welburn, S.C. 2010. How human Brucellosis incidence in urban Kampala can be reduced most efficiently? A stochastic risk assessment of informally-marketed milk. PLoS One 5(12): e14188.

Makita, K., Fèvre, E.M., Waiswa, C., Kaboyo, W., De Clare Bronsvoort, B.M., Eisler, M.C. & Welburn, S.C. 2008. Human Brucellosis in urban and peri-urban areas of Kampala, Uganda. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1149(1): 309-311.

Manosuthi, W., Thummakul, T., Vibhagool, A., Vorachit, M. & Malathum, K. 2004. Case report: Brucellosis: A re-emerging disease in Thailand. The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 35(1): 109-112.

Mantur, B.G. & Amarnath, S.K. 2008. Brucellosis in India - A review. Journal of Biosciences 33(4): 539-547.

Meky, F., Hassan, E., Abd-Elhafez, A., Aboul-Fetou, A. & El- Gazali, S. 2007. Epidemiology and risk factors of brucellosis in Alexandria governorate. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal 13(3): 677-685.

Memish, Z.A. & Balkhy, H.H. 2004. Brucellosis and international travel. Journal of Travel Medicine 11(1): 49-55.

Nagalingam, M., Shome, R., Balamurugan, V., Shome, B., NarayanaRao, K., Vivekananda, V., Isloor, S. & Prabhudas, K. 2012. Molecular typing of Brucella species isolates from livestock and human. Tropical Animal Health and Production 44(1): 5-9.

Noor, K.B.M. & Dola, K. 2011. Investigating training impact on farmers’ perception and performance. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science 1(6): 145-152.

Pappas, G. 2010. The changing Brucella ecology: Novel reservoirs, new threats. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents 36(Supplement 1): S8-S11.

Pappas, G., Papadimitriou, P., Akritidis, N., Christou, L. & Tsianos, E.V. 2006. The new global map of human brucellosis. The Lancet Infectious Diseases 6(2): 91-99.

Sam, I.C., Karunakaran, R., Kamarulzaman, A., Ponnampalavanar, S., Syed Omar, S.F., Ng, K.P., Mohd Yusof, M.Y., Hooi, P.S., Jafar, F.L. & AbuBakar, S. 2012. A large exposure to Brucella melitensisin a diagnostic laboratory. Journal of Hospital Infection 80: 321-325.

Seleem, M.N., Boyle, S.M. & Sriranganathan, N. 2010. Brucellosis: A re-emerging zoonosis. Veterinary Microbiology 140(3-4): 392-398.

Seow, C., Barkham, T., Wong, P., Lin, L., Pada, S. & Tan, S. 2009. Brucellosis in a Singaporean with prolonged fever. Singapore Medical Journal 50(9): e312.

Shahaza, O., Khairani-Bejo, S., Zunita, Z. & Bahaman, A.R. 2009. In-house rose Bengal Plate Agglutination Test (RBPT) for a rapid diagnosis of Brucellosis in goats in Malaysia. International Journal of Tropical Medicine 4(3): 116-118.

Sofian, M., Aghakhani, A., Velayati, A.A., Banifazl, M., Eslamifar, A. & Ramezani, A. 2008a. Risk factors for human brucellosis in Iran: A case-control study. International Journal of Infectious Diseases 12(2): 157-161.

Sofian, M., Aghakhani, A., Velayati, A.A., Banifazl, M., Eslamifar, A. & Ramezani, A. 2008b. Risk factors for human brucellosis in Iran: A case-control study. International Journal of Infectious Diseases 12(2): 157-161.

Soultravelers. 2013. Best Fresh Raw Goats Milk Penang, Malaysia. Vol. 2013.

Sullivan, K.M., Dean, A. & Soe, M.M. 2009. OpenEpi: A web-based epidemiologic and statistical calculator for public health. Public Health Rep. 124(3): 471-474.

Tiong-Sa, T., Phin-Keong, V., Kok-Eng, C., Wan-Hin, T. & Seng, T.L. 2001. Geography of  Malaysia. Malaysia: National Response Strategies to Climate Change. pp. 203-246.

Vu, T. 2007. Rethinking the traditional concept of livestock services: A study of response capacity in Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam. Pro-Poor Livestock Policy Initiative 41: 1-60.

Wanjohi, M., Gitao, C. & Bebora, L. 2012. The prevalence of Brucella spp. in camel milk marketed from North Eastern Province, Kenya. In College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences Repository 4028, Vol 2013, University of Nairobi, Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya.

Yagupsky, P. 2011. Pediatric Brucellosis: An (almost) forgotten disease. In Hot Topics in Infection and Immunity in Children VIII (Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology Vol. 719), edited by Curtis, N., Finn, A. & Pollard, A.J. New York: Springer. pp. 123-132.

Young, E.J. 2009. Brucellosis. In Bacterial Infections of Humans, edited by Brachman, P.S. & Abrutyn, E. New York: Springer. pp. 177-188. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-09843-2_8

Yumuk, Z. & O’Callaghan, D. 2012. Brucellosis in Turkey - An overview. Int. J. Infect. Dis. 16(4): e228-e235.

Yusuff, M.K.M. 1985. The problems of goat production in Malaysia. In Goat Production and Research in the Tropics: Workshop held at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 6-8 February 1984, Vol. 7 (edited by Copland, J.W.), Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. pp. 4-14.

Zhang, H., Wang, J., Menghebilige, Chen, Y., Yun, Y., Sun, T., Li, H. & Guo, M. 2009. Nutritive composition of Tarag, the traditional naturally-fermented goat milk in China. Ecology of Food and Nutrition 48(2): 112-122.

Zulkifi, Z. & Bujang, A.A. 2008. Housing affordability: A study on household expenditures ratio to the income for the lower and medium income groups. In Sustaining Housing Market, edited by Abdullah, S. & Zarin, H.A. UTM Malaysia: Penerbit UTM Press. pp. 26-41.

 

 

*Corresponding author; email: latiffah@upm.edu.my