Prevalence of brucellosis in livestock of African and Asian continents.

Description Brucellosis is an important bacterial zoonotic disease caused by Brucella species. It mainly affects livestock such as cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, and camels. The disease causes abortion, infertility, reduced milk production, and significant economic losses in the livestock industry. It can also spread to humans through contact with infected animals, contaminated animal products, or unpasteurized milk. In African and Asian countries, brucellosis remains a major public health and veterinary concern. Its prevalence varies between countries and regions depending on animal management practices, vaccination coverage, hygiene, diagnostic methods, and livestock movement. A systematic review and meta-analysis reported a pooled prevalence of approximately 8% in livestock in Africa and 8% in Asia, based on studies from 2000–2020. The prevalence of brucellosis is often higher in areas with limited veterinary services, poor biosecurity, and inadequate disease surveillance. Control measures include regular screening, vaccination where appropriate, animal movement control, improved farm hygiene, pasteurization of milk, and public health education. Studying the prevalence of brucellosis in African and Asian livestock helps identify high-risk regions, understand transmission patterns, and develop effective prevention and control strategies to protect animal health, human health, and agricultural livelihoods.