SMALL RUMINANT AND HUMAN BRUCELLOSIS: “SERO PREVALENCE, RISK FACTORS AND ASSESSMENT OF FARMERS’ KNOWLEDGE, AT TITUDE, AND PRACTICES IN EJERSA LAFO DISTRICT, WEST SHEWA, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA.”

Brucellosis is a disease of animals and humans with a great public health burden across all societal segments, particularly in developing countries and it also affects developed countries. A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2021 to November 2022 to estimate the seroprevalence of small ruminants and human brucellosis and assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of farmers’ in the Ejersa Lafo district, Oromia region, Ethiopia. In this study, 374 small ruminants (176 sheep, 198 goats) and 216 human samples were screened for Brucella antibodies using the Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT), and positive sera were confirmed by an indirect enzymelinked immune sorbent assay (I-ELISA). A structured questionnaire was also administered to 216 respondents to assess communities’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) about brucellosis. The overall seroprevalence of brucellosis in small ruminants was 4.28% (95%CI=2.46, 6.85) and 1.34% (95%CI=0.44, 3.09) by RBPT and IELISA, respectively. The species seroprevalence level of brucellosis by I-ELISA was 1.70% (95%CI=0.35, 4.90), 1.01% (95%CI= 0.12, 3.60), and 0% in sheep, goats, and humans, respectively. Pregnant small ruminants were more Brucella seropositive than non- pregnant. The study revealed that 81.5% of the communities were unaware of brucellosis, 60.18% did not use protective measures, and 97.6% consume raw milk. Higher-educated respondents had 2.52 times more knowledge than uneducated respondents. Male individuals implement 1.08 times more preventive practices than female individuals. The study revealed a low prevalence of brucellosis in small ruminants and an absence of positive results in humans. However, the existence of the disease in small ruminants is a possible risk of spreading the disease from animal to humans. Therefore, the slaughter of positive reactors and proper hygienic practices were recommended. The study also highlights the importance of the provision of information about knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding brucellosis as one of the major strategies for prevention and control.