SEROPREVALENCE OF BRUCELLOSIS IN DONKEYS AND MULES IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Donkeys and mules are neglected animals of livestock family. In donkeys and mules, brucellosis seroprevalence was checked in present study. A 22 mules and 160 donkeys serum samples were collected (Faisalabad and its surrounding area). After initial screening with Rose Bengal Plate test (RBPT), positive samples were again validated with Serum Agglutination test (SAT). A 4.4 and 3.75% brucellosis positive samples were recorded by RBPT and SAT, respectively in donkeys. However, this percentage was 9.1% by RBPT and SAT in mules. Source wise prevalence in donkeys was 0%, 33.3% and 3.2% from Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh and private animals, respectively. In mules, prevalence of 11.8% (male) and 0% (female) whereas in donkeys, seroprevalence of 1.35%
(male) and 3.4% (females) was recorded. Seroprevalence of 3.27% was recorded in donkeys of 1-5 years of age while 4.1% was noted in 6-10, 3.44% in 11-15 and 0% above 15 years of age. Prevalence of 8.82%, 3.84% and 2.08% was recorded in good, fair, and poor body conditioned donkeys, respectively. Whereas prevalence of 14.28 %, 12.5% and 14.28 % was noted in good, fair and poor
body conditioned mules, respectively. Brucellosis prevalence was 8.83% in donkeys of foaling 0, 8.70% of foaling 1, 8.57% of foaling 2, 10% of foaling 3 and 12% of foaling above 3. In donkeys, all tested parameters (body condition, age, parity and sex) excluding source of samples have nonsignificant influence at brucellosis prevalence. All tested parameters were nonsignificant in mules.