Survey on Animal Brucellosis in Raw Milk Samples in Kathmandu Valley

Abstract

A preliminary "Survey on Animal Brucellosis in raw milk samples in Kathmandu Valley” was conducted during January 2010 to May 2011 in four areas (namely New Baneshwor, Old Baneshwor, Gausala and Sinamangal). Prevalence of Brucellosis was studied by collecting raw milk from livestock-handlers and from private dairy. Altogether 200 milk samples of cows and buffaloes (single, pooled, mixed) were collected. All samples were analyzed by milk ring test (MRT) and out of 200 samples examined, 98 samples were found positive. The prevalence rate of Brucellosis was found to be 49% by MRT. The prevalence of Brucellosis is higher and unexpected which might be due to false positive result of MRT because other test such as Plate Agglutination Test (PAT) and Compliment Fixation Test (CFT) on serum were not conducted due to limited time and resources. Therefore MRT alone cannot predict the actual prevalence of Brucellosis in a dairy herd, the result of MRT should be validated by other recommended tests. Similarly, out of 200 milk samples tested by MRT, the highest prevalence of Brucellosis was obtained from Old Baneshwor area (n=55) 50% while the least prevalence rate was obtained from Gausala area. (n=5) 38%. Additionally during the study period between livestock-handlers and private dairy, a total 48 mixed milk samples (25 samples from private dairy and 23 samples from livestock-handlers) were collected and tested. The highest prevalence rate of Brucellosis was obtained from livestock-handlers (69%) than from private dairy (40%). However, the disease prevalence rate was found more in cows (40%) whereas absent in buffaloes in collected single milk samples after milk ring test (MRT).