Abstract

Brucellosis caused by Brucella species is a disease of economic and public health importance worldwide. Although present in Nigeria, there is a paucity of information regarding the occurrence of the disease in small ruminants in Nasarawa State. A cross-sectional study was therefore carried out to determine the seroprevalence of the disease using Rose Bengal test (RBT) and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) among small ruminants slaughtered in the Lafia central abattoir. Of the total of 324 small ruminants (sheep and goats) sera collected and tested, 68 (21.0%) and 19 (5.9%) were positive by the RBT and cELISA tests, respectively. The prevalence of 23.8% (61/256) for RBT and 7.4% (19/256) for cELISA as well as 4.4% (3/68) for RBT and 0% (0/68) for cELISA were recorded in goat and sheep sera, respectively. Brucellosis is prevalent in small ruminants with that in goats being more than that of sheep slaughtered at the abattoir in Lafia, Nasarawa State. This is of public health importance to individuals that have regular contact with small ruminants in Nasarawa State. A coordinated surveillance of the disease among the livestock population in the state should be conducted.

Key words: Brucellosis, Goats, Lafia, Nasarawa State, Sheep, Small ruminants