Sero-prevalence and associated risk factors of small ruminant’s brucellosis in the Yabello and Elweye districts of Borana zone, Southern Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of small ruminant’s brucellosis in Borana Zone of Yabello and Elweye districts from November, 2024 to June, 2025. Different sampling methods were used to select the study districts, Peasant associations (PA), villages, householders and individual study animals. A questionnaire survey was administered to animal owners (pastoralists) from whose animal’s blood sample was collected. Out of 541 sera collected, 13 of them were seropositive for Brucella with an overall animal seroprevalence of 2.40%. Rose Bengal Plate test (RBPT) was used to screen the samples and Complement Fixation test (CFT) was employed on RBPT positives for confirmation. The study also revealed flock level seroprevalence of 14.29%. A statistically significant difference was observed between small ruminants with previous history of abortion and those without history of abortion (p = 0.002, OR = 7.88 with 95% CI: 2.20–28.23%). Similarly, Seropositivity for Brucella infection was significantly higher in small ruminants with more than three parities compared to those with zero or between one and three parities (p = 0.04, OR = 5.92; 95% CI: 1.07–32.58%). Regarding the knowledge of the interviewed pastoralists about brucellosis, more than 90% of them didn’t have any awareness about the zoonotic nature of brucellosis, control and prevention measures and had contacts with aborted fetuses and retained fetal membrane. The finding confirms that the disease is circulating within the small ruminant population of the study areas and significant gaps in awareness and preventive practices among pastoralists. It is advisable to implement comprehensive control and prevention strategies aimed at reducing the incidence and impact of the disease and undertake community sensitization on public importance of the disease.