Low Seroprevalence of Bovine Brucellosis in Communal Areas of Limpopo Province, South Africa

Brucellosis is caused by Gram-negative coccobacilli of the <i>Brucella</i> genus, with cattle mainly infected with <i>Brucella abortus</i>. The disease burden is a threat to socioeconomic development (agriculture/tourism) as well as to animal health, biodiversity and to human health due to the zoonotic nature of this pathogen. In South Africa (S.A), the prevalence of the disease in cattle and livestock in general is mostly unknown in communal farms. A cross-sectional study with a multistage sampling strategy was applied in communal areas from three district municipalities, i.e., Mopani, Capricorn and Sekhukhune of Limpopo province, South Africa. Sera (<i>n</i> = 1133) were collected and screened for antibodies against the <i>Brucella</i> species using the Rose Bengal Test (RBT) and confirmation of positive reactors with a Complement Fixation Test (CFT). The brucellosis seroprevalence was found to be 0.79% (95% CI: 0.38-1.45) by a CFT. Univariate analysis indicated that only the frequency of birth was significantly associated with CFT positivity (OR = 20; 95% Cl: 1.61-247.99; <i>p</i> = 0.039). The multivariable logistic regression model revealed that the frequency of birth, age, breed, gender, municipality and district were not statistically significant predictors at 0.05 level. However, some variables like cattle aged more than five years, had higher odds of CFT positivity compared to those younger than five years (OR = 5.66; 95% CI: 0.36-87.97), although the association was not statistically significant (<i>p</i> = 0.215). All positive reactors detected originated from the Mopani district municipality. Overall, the findings reveal a much lower seroprevalence of brucellosis in the communal farms of Limpopo province than previously assumed. We are of the opinion that the low seroprevalence is attributed to effective control strategies implemented by the Limpopo provincial veterinary services and hence provide important information to assist the regulatory bodies in the control and eradication of the disease.