Brucella infection in goats in Hubei province, China.

Brucellosis is a zoonotic animal disease causing a serious obstacle to public health, social and economic progress, food security and food safety. The present study was to investigate the prevalence of Brucella infection in goats in Hubei province, China. A total 2007serum samples were obtained from 6 counties in Hubei province in 2014 and 2015 and were tested for antibodies to Brucella by serum agglutination test. The results showed that the seroprevalence of Brucella in goats was 0.25% (95% CI= 0.1-0.6). In different genders, the prevalence were 0.21% (95% CI= 0-0.8) and 0.28% (95% CI= 0.1-0.8) in male and female goats, respectively. In different seasons, the prevalence ranged from 0 to 0.38% with the distribution of that 0 (95 CI: 0.0, 0.1) in spring; 0.35% (95 CI: 0.1, 0.3) in summer; 0.38% (95 CI: 0.1, 0.6) in autumn and 0 (95 CI: 0.0, 1.3) in winter, respectively. The present study herein indicated the existence of Brucella infection in goats in Hubei province in serology for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]