Precious Mupoti Sezuni

Bio: Precious Mupoti Sezuni is an academic researcher from University of Namibia. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 7 citations.

Serological prevalence and public health significance of brucellosis on a dairy farm in Namibia from 2011 to 2014

Abstract: The main objective of this study was to determine the serological prevalence of brucellosis on a dairy farm with no past history of abortions, but where Brucella control measures including test and slaughter and vaccination of heifers at 4–8 months of age was practiced. Secondary data from 2011 to 2014 obtained from the Epidemiology Section of the Directorate of Veterinary Services was used. Mandatory annual brucellosis testing results for mature dairy cows on a dairy farm for the period 2011–2014 were collated and analyzed. Results of a total of 6912 cows were analysed. The data comprised of the year of testing, number of cows tested for Brucella antibodies and the number of cows that tested positive. Serological testing was carried out using the Rose Bengal Test (RBT) as a screening test and the Complement Fixation Test as a confirmatory test for results that tested positive on the RBPT. Over the 4-year period, one dairy cow tested positive for Brucella antibodies in 2013 giving an apparent prevalence of 0.05% and an overall prevalence of 0.01%. When apparent prevalence was adjusted for RBPT test specificity and sensitivity of 71 and 78% respectively, true prevalence was determined to be zero.

Epidemiological features of human brucellosis in Tongliao City, Inner Mongolia province, China: a cross-sectional study over an 11-year period (2007-2017).

Abstract: Objectives To describe the epidemiology of human brucellosis in the past decade and provide evidence of disease control in Tongliao city, which is one of the highest-risk areas of human brucellosis in Inner Mongolia province, China. Design Cross-sectional study. Participants Clinically and bacteriologically confirmed human brucellosis cases. Primary and secondary outcome measures An analysis of the reported cases of human brucellosis during 2007–2017 was carried out to describe the age, sex and occupational distributions of the cases. The time series analysis model and the geographical information system were explored to describe the seasonality and spatiotemporal distribution, respectively, at the county level. Results A total of 13 938 cases of human brucellosis was collected in Tongliao from 2007 to 2017; the majority was aged 25 years to 59 years (85.4%) and the male-to-female ratio was 2.64:1; most of them were agriculturalists (81.9%) and pastoralists (12.4%). The incidence rates increased dramatically from 9.22/100 000 in 2007 to 69.16/100 000 in 2011 with an annual increase of 14.99%. They decreased during 2012–2016 (annual decrease of 8.37%) and rose again in 2017 (44.32/100 000). The disease peaked during March–July, with a clear periodicity and trend of monthly anterior displacement since 2012. Jarud Banner, the region located in the north-west of Tongliao, had the highest accumulated incidence rate (130.1/100 000) compared with other counties. The high-risk regions were spread from the north-west to the south and east of Tongliao during the past decade. Conclusions The prevalence of human brucellosis in Tongliao was aggravated during the past decade and peaked during March–July. High-risk areas were mainly concentrated in the counties with extensive prairies and livestock.

Seroprevalence of Bovine Brucellosis in Selected Districts of Zambia.

Abstract: Brucellosis is an infectious zoonosis that has huge economic and public health implications globally The disease is prevalent in humans, livestock and wildlife in Sub-Saharan Africa A cross-sectional study was conducted between 6 May 2017 and 31 July 2020 during which 1712 sera from 175 cattle herds in five districts from Southern, Western and Eastern Provinces of Zambia were collected and screened against brucellosis The Rose Bengal Test (RBT) and competitive Enzyme-linked Immuno Assay (c-ELISA) were used in serial testing for the detection of antibodies against Brucella species A total of 127 animals from 37 herds tested positive, giving overall individual animal and herd-level seroprevalences of 753% (95% CI: 628–878%) and 2114% (95% CI: 150–272%), respectively Namwala district had the highest herd seroprevalence (339%, 95% CI: 216–461%), while Lundazi did not record any seropositivity Comparably, Southern Province had the highest individual animal (897%, 95% CI: 7–11%) and herd-level (285%, 95% CI: 203–367%) seroprevalences, although this was not statistically significant Within Southern Province, higher seropositivity was observed in Namwala district (OR: 855; CI: 266–2744), among female animals (OR: 248; CI: 138–446) and in those aged 11 years and above (OR: 267; CI: 134–534) as well as in gravid cows (OR: 434; CI: 208–892) Seropositivity was also observed among some animals with hygromas (OR: 65; CI: 045–9408) and those with a history of abortion (OR: 113; CI: 018–728) although the findings were not statistically significant Brucella seroprevalence among traditional cattle in Zambia remains high Control programs against bovine brucellosis must be introduced to reduce its impact on human health and animal production

A retrospective sero-epidemiological survey of bovine brucellosis on commercial and communal farming systems in Namibia from 2004 to 2018.

Abstract: Cattle production is the major livestock production activity and the mainstay of Namibia’s economy Sustained beef exports are contingent on a sound sanitary environment where diseases such as brucellosis are under control In this retrospective study, 49,718 bovine brucellosis testing results from 2004 to 2018 were analyzed to determine the proportion of sero-positive cattle and herds, and the spatial distribution of positive reactors from commercial and communal areas In total, 244 positive reactors were identified based on the Rose Bengal Test (RBT) and the Complement Fixation Test (CFT) in series, giving an overall proportion of infected animals of 049% (244/49,718; 95% CI, 043–056%) and an overall proportion of infected herds of 926% (78/842; 95% CI, 749–1141%) There was a higher proportion of sero-positive communal herds (3309%) and cattle (1027%) than commercial herds (467%) and cattle (024%; p < 005) Annually, the proportion of positive reactors was 0–137% in the commercial area and 0–5238% in the communal areas, with a clear decline in positive reactors in the communal areas Within the commercial sector, the proportion of positive reactor dairy, beef, and export cattle was 019% (51/27,067; 95% CI, 014–025%), 030% (48/16,098; 95% CI, 022–040%), and 033% (16/4811; 95% CI, 020–054%), respectively Abortions were found to be the major reason for Brucella testing in the communal areas About 1265% (96/759) of abortion-linked sera tested positive in the communal areas, but none were positive in beef or dairy cattle Widespread vaccination of cattle and robust planned surveillance is recommended to reduce the incidence of the disease, its associated production losses and public health risk

Investigation on Brucella infection in farm animals in Saham, Sultanate of Oman with reference to human brucellosis outbreak.

Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate Brucella infection in farm animals in Saham, Oman, with reference to a survey carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries (MAF) for Brucellosis during the period of May to July 2016 in Saham, following an outbreak of human brucellosis. We wanted to apply different serological, bacteriological and molecular tests in a time frame (phase 1, 2 & 3) with reference to the pivotal time of a human brucellosis outbreak to ascertain the status of the disease in Saham area where the MAF survey was conducted. Blood samples were collected from farm animals and sera were screened in parallel for Brucella antibodies using different serological tests. Using the RBT test, phase 1 sera showed seropositivity in sheep at 2.6%, (95% CI: 0.5–13.5%), in camel (5.9%, 1.1–27.0%), but not in sera from goats and cattle (0%). Using I-ELISA, seropositivity in goat was 3.1% (0.6–15.8%), with no positive sheep and cattle. Using c-ELISA for camel we found a seropositivity of 5.9% (1.1–27.0%). Furthermore, CFT seropositivity in goats was 21.9% (CI: 11.3–38.9), cattle and sheep sera were negative and camel was 5.9% (1.1–27.0%). In phase 2, the seropositivity in goats was 1.9% (1.4–2.6%), sheep 4.5% (3.5–5.8%), cattle 1.1%, (0.5–2.3%) and camels 18.2% (5.1–47.7%), Phase 3 sera were collected 6 months after the human brucellosis outbreak. With RBT, the seropositivity in goats was 3% (1.0–8.5%), sheep 2% (0.6–7.1%) cattle 1% (0.2–5.5%). With I-ELISA, goats & camels were negative, sheep were 3% (1.0–8.5%) and cattle 1% (0.2–5.5%). Moreover, B. melitensis was isolated from a bronchial lymph node of the RBT and I-ELISA seropositive cow and confirmed by Multiplex PCR and biochemical tests. Using a retrospective study analysis of animal sera and following up after a human brucellosis outbreak, the present study showed a slight decrease in seropositivity of infected animals after the MAF implemented test and slaughter policy. The most interesting finding in this study was the isolation, identification and molecular characterization of Brucella melitensis in a cow (spillover), which is not a preferential host for Brucella melitensis.

Seroprevalence of Bovine Brucellosis in Selected Districts of Zambia

Abstract: Brucellosis is an infectious zoonosis that has huge economic and public health implications globally. The disease is prevalent in humans, livestock and wildlife in Sub Saharan Africa. A crosssectional study was conducted between 6th May 2017 and 31st July 2020 during which 1712 sera from 177 cattle herds in Southern, Western and Eastern provinces of Zambia was collected and screened against brucellosis. Rose Bengal Test and c-ELISA were used in serial testing for detection of antibodies against Brucella species. Results: A total of 127 animals and 37 herds tested positive, giving an overall individual and herd seroprevalence of 7.42% (CI: 0.61-0.86) and 20.9% respectively. Namwala district recorded the highest seroprevalence (12.2%) while Lundazi had the lowest (0%). A higher seropositivity was observed among female animals (8.5%), those aged between 11 and 17 years (14.1%) and pregnant cows (13.8%). Conclusions: Brucella seroprevalence among traditional cattle in Zambia remains high. It is vital that control programmes against bovine brucellosis are introduced in order to reduce its zoonotic impact on human health and increase animal production.