SEROLOGICAL DETECTION OF BRUCELLA MELLITENSIS IN HUMAN AND GOATS.

The current study was planned to identify the prevalence of brucellosis caused by Brucellamelitensis in human and goats in Wasit province using an indirect ELISA. Totally, 200 blood samples were collected (100 humans and 100 goats) from different areas; Al-Numaniyah, Al-Kut, Badra and Al-Hai, in Wasit province, Iraq, during October to December / 2020. Overall results were revealed 61 (30.5%) positive sera including 23 (23%) humans and 38 (38%) goats. Concerned to titer of seropositive population, though the values of goats were elevated, no significant differences (P>0.072) were found between human and goats. Association between seropositivity and epidemiological factors (age, sex and region) was showed a significant variation (P<0.05). For region factor, significant highest (P<0.05) value was detected in Al-Hai for both human and goats; while the lowest significance seen in Al-Kut and Al-Numaniyah for human and goats. For period factor, no significant differences (P≤0.63) were detected in seropositive findings of human; however, significant increases (P≤0.02) in findings of goats were observed in November; while significant decreases in October. For sex factor, significant increases (P<0.05) in seropositivity were reported in females of both human and goats. For age factor, significant highest seropositivity was showed in >40 years and >15-40 years groups of human, and in >1-3 years and > 3 years groups of goats; whereas, the lowest significance was observed in ≤ 15 years and ≤ 1 year groups of human and goats. In conclusion, there a significant prevalence for B. melitensis among study population in particular goats that could play an important source for transmission of infection to the human, directly or indirectly. To establishment a data base, furthermore studies are required to identify the prevalence of B. melitensis in other farm animals as well as in other regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]