The Example of Çankırı Province in Combating Brucellosis in Cattle

Brucellosis in bovines is an infectious disease that leads to significant health, productivity, and economic losses. It is also a zoonotic disease, posing a serious threat to public health. This disease is widespread in Türkiye as well as globally. Vaccination is a crucial and cost-effective measure, with the most commonly utilized vaccine strains worldwide for bovine brucellosis control being B. abortus S19 and RB51. In this study, the results of the intensive efforts to combat bovine brucellosis between 2011 and 2015 in Çankırı province, as well as the results of the mass B. abortus S19 conjunctival vaccination campaigns carried out within the scope of the Ministry project in 2012-2013, are evaluated. Within the scope of the research, retrospective data obtained from various public institutions affiliated with the ministry were evaluated. The results of disease control, eradication and vaccination studies carried out in the field were evaluated epidemiologically within the framework of legal regulations. As a result of close monitoring of bovine brucellosis outbreaks and mass conjunctival vaccination in Çankırı province, the number of outbreaks has decreased more than four times compared to the average in Türkiye. Additionally, there is a 95-fold reduction in the number of animals compensated for the disease and a more than 200-fold decrease in the total amount of compensation paid. This study examines the efforts to control bovine brucellosis in Çankırı province, particularly focusing on mass conjunctival vaccination campaigns using the B. abortus S19 vaccine strain. Given the conditions in Türkiye, the B. abortus S19 vaccine strain is currently deemed the most effective for preventing brucellosis in bovines. Ultimately, to attain the planned objectives in bovine brucellosis control in Türkiye, the study concludes that vaccination during a suitable period, which does not pose a risk to pregnancy and ensures robust herd immunity, is the optimal approach.