Seroprevalence and molecular detection of <i>Brucella</i> infection in livestock in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

Small ruminants and camels are important livestock species in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), although <i>Brucella</i> infection can limit their productivity. This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of <i>Brucella</i> infection and its associated risk factors in small ruminants and camels in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Additionally, seropositive animals were tested for the DNA of <i>Brucella</i>. Multispecies competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA) and multispecies indirect (i-ELISA) were used to test 3,086 animals from 2022 to 2023. <i>Brucella</i> cell surface 31 kDa protein (bcsp31) gene-based real-time polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) was used to detect <i>Brucella</i> DNA. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the association between seroprevalence and potential risk factors. The overall seroprevalences of <i>Brucella</i> infection were 1.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2%-2.2%) and 5.8% (95% CI, 5.0%-6.7%) based on serial and parallel testing, respectively. The DNA of <i>Brucella</i> was detected in 13 of the 51 seropositive animals. The overall seroprevalence of <i>Brucella</i> infection was associated with the region, type of animal holding, species, and age of the animals. In conclusion, this study documented <i>Brucella</i> infection in small ruminants and camels in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, warranting necessary intervention strategies to eliminate <i>Brucella</i> infections in livestock populations.