Abstract

Bovine brucellosis is a contagious bacterial disease that has been identified as a significant livestock disease and barrier to international trade. Thus, the objectives of this review are to determine the current epidemiology of bovine brucellosis, including the status, risk factors, impacts on public health and animal genetic resources, control measures, and implications in Ethiopia. The epidemiology of bovine brucellosis depends on several host, pathogen, management system, and environmental risk factors. The most important host risk factors include age, sex, and reproductive status. The susceptibility to bovine brucellosis increases in sexually mature and pregnant cattle. Brucellosis is higher in females than in males due to the presence of the Brucella growth factor and tropism to the fetal tissues. The disease is most commonly spread between herds through the movement of asymptomatic animals and between animals by contact with infectious discharges from infected animals. Herd management practices have a significant influence on disease transmission, including herd size, herd mixing, handling of aborted fetuses, and retention of placentas. Brucellosis poses major public health threats through occupational exposure and the consumption of unpasteurized milk and dairy products. Bovine brucellosis is a globally distributed infectious disease that poses a significant challenge to animal health and productivity, as well as zoonotic infections, particularly in developing countries. Thus, integrated brucellosis control and prevention measures, such as biosecurity measures, quarantine of newly arrived animals, herd screening and isolation, and immunization of the herd, are the most important strategies to mitigate the risk of the disease and protect animal and public health.

Key words: Bovine brucellosis; control and prevention; epidemiology; public health impacts; risk factors