Background: Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease with significant economic and public health implications. Infections in humans are always transmitted through direct or indirect contact with infected animals or their products. A substantial proportion of the Indian population is occupationally exposed to animals, increasing the risk of zoonotic infections such as brucellosis. Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis among veterinary health personnel in Ernakulam district and to analyze the profile of brucellosis cases reported at a tertiary care center over five years. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 315 veterinary health personnel from government and private sectors in Ernakulam district, selected through universal sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, and blood samples were tested for Brucella IgG using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Additionally, a secondary data analysis was done for brucellosis cases reported at a tertiary care center from 2014 to 2019. Results: Seroprevalence of brucellosis among 315 veterinary health personnel in Ernakulam district was two (0.63%; 95% CI: 0.1-2.3). Among 828 patients presenting with brucellosis-like symptoms at a tertiary care center over five years, 56 (6.76%; 95% CI: 5.06-8.46) were diagnosed with the disease. Conclusion: Gaps in surveillance, reporting, and screening limit effective control of brucellosis. Enhancing screening of both cattle and humans, along with improving public awareness, food safety, and occupational hygiene, is essential to prevent human infection.
Lais et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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