Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the risk factors to brucellosis in one-humped (Dromedary) camels. Structured questionnaires were administered to determine knowledge, attitude and practices of camel handlers to camel brucellosis in Katsina state, Nigeria. Camels in herds and those brought to the abattoir for slaughter in the north and central senatorial districts of Katsina State were sampled for the study. Two serological tests viz; Modified Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and Serum Agglutination Test (SAT) with EDTA were used as screening and standard tests respectively. In all locations sampled, female camels were more at risk of contacting Brucellosis than males. Female camels were shown to have 0.570 (95% CI = 0.376 – 0.866, p = 0.007) more chances of getting infected than males camels. There was statistical significant association (ᵡ2= 7.189, p = 0.007) observed in the prevalence rates in favour of females. It was also observed that camels of age group 16-20 years showed highest prevalence to brucellosis. There was statistical significant association (ᵡ2 = 13.602, p = 0.009) observed in the prevalence rates according to age. Knowledge, attitude and practices were assessed using structured questionnaires. It was determined that there is very poor knowledge of camel brucellosis amongst stakeholders as a result they had a ‘lassez faire’ attitude towards the disease and no practices towards prevention of infection either to them or their animals. It was recommended that there is the need to carry out awareness campaigns to enlighten camel owners, herdsmen, abattoir staff about the dangers of poor hygiene during meat and milk processing, the importance of use of protective clothing when carrying out these operations and the dangers of zoonotic diseases and the dangers of consumption of unpasteurized camel milk and milk products, the public health significance of the brucellosis and that there is the need to develop a strategic plan to decrease spread of brucellosis in the study area

Key words: Brucella, Seroprevalence, Camels, KAP, Risk Factors