Cross-sectional serological evidence of Brucella spp. exposure in dogs and occupationally exposed humans in Ghana: implications for a one health approach

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease of public health concern in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana, where it is reported in livestock. Research on canine brucellosis in Ghana is limited. Due to the risk of Brucella spp. infection via the contact of human beings with dogs and dog reproductive materials. However, no previous documented study has assessed Brucella spp. exposure among companion dogs and dog-exposed human populations in Ghana. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken to collect serological data in the Ashanti and the Greater Accra Regions of Ghana. In this survey, 215 dogs and 117 people who were dog owners, dog breeders, and veterinarians along with veterinary students were selected for the study. Brucella -specific IgG antibodies were detected in sera using the DEMEDITEC Brucella Vet ELISA (Germany), which detects antibodies against smooth Brucella lipopolysaccharide and is not species-specific. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used to identify risk factors of Brucella seropositivity and the tests were analyzed at the 5% significance level. In our study, the seroprevalence of Brucella spp. was determined to be 7.9% in canines (17/215; 95% CI: 5.0–12.3%) and 7.7% in humans (9/117; 95% CI: 4.1–14.0%). Borderline results (3 dogs, 1.4%; 1 human, 0.9%) were classified as seronegative. No covariate was statistically significant for dog seropositivity, ( p > 0.05). In humans, the only statistically significant covariate for seropositivity was the handling of pregnant animals (Fisher’s exact p = 0.020). In our study, the interaction of dogs with other dogs showed a borderline associated with lower odds of seropositivity (aOR = 0.24; 95% CI: 0.06–0.95; p = 0.050) and participants who handled pregnant animals had significantly lower odds of seropositivity than those who did not, after controlling for profession (aOR = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.04–0.78; p = 0.0204). Our study is the first to document the serological presence of Brucella spp. in domesticated canines and in humans with dog exposure in Ghana. The similar seroprevalences in the two populations suggest shared exposure at the canine-human interface and further substantiate the need for a cohesive One Health system in Ghana which includes routine serological surveys, compulsory biosafety training, and the inclusion of canine brucellosis in the national zoonotic surveillance programs.