Seroprevalence of Brucella abortus in Yak, Zo and Cows in Gilgit and Nagar Districts of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.

GILGIT City (Pakistan); PAKISTAN

Brucellosis is one of the most infectious and zoonotic diseases of livestock. Experiments were conducted on serum of yak, zo and cow from Gilgit and Nagar districts of Gilgit Baltistan Pakistan. Seroprevalence and risk factors of brucellosis were recorded during this study. Confirmation of Brucella abortus in serum was carried out using Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT) and indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (I-ELISA). Seroprevalence at district Gilgit was recorded 6.66% in cows and 6.66% in yak while it was 3.33% in zo. Seroprevalence at Nagar district was recorded as 43.33% in cows and13.33% in yak while it was 10% in zo. The overall prevalence at district Gilgit was recorded 5.55% and it was 22.22% at Nagar district. The overall prevalence at summer season recorded was 20% and at winter season it was 7.77%. Highest positive cases were recorded in older animals as compared to young ones. Higher prevalence was observed in female animals as compared to males in both districts. However, all the 180 serum sample examined through RBPT and I-ELISA test suggested that high prevalence of brucellosis in yak, zo and cows in district Nagar as compared to Gilgit and leads to significant economic losses. This is the first study demonstrating the prevalence of an important pathogen in yak, zo and cow of Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]