Cross-sectional Study of Camel (Camelus dromedaries) Brucellosis
In the Red Sea State, Sudan

Hadil Abdelhafeez Mohammed1, Atif Elamin Abdelgadir2*
Page No. 67-77

The study was conducted in Red Sea State to determine sero-prevalence of camel (Camelus
dromedaries) brucellosis based on Modified Rose Bengal Plate Test (mRBPT) and Competitive
Enzyme Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay (cELISA).A total of 400 sera were collected from dromedary
camel from different localities in the Red Sea State namely: Port Sudan, Algonob and Alowlib,
Sawakin, Halayib and Animal quarantine in Sawakin. The overall sero-prevalence rate in the state
using modified Rose Bengal Plate Test (mRBPT) was 10.8% (No .of positive cases = 43). The seroprevalence
rate in the different localities as follow: in Halayib was 3.3% (No. of positive cases =
13), 2.2% (No. of positive cases = 9) in Port Sudan, 2.8% (No. of positive cases =11) in Algonob
and Alowlib, 0.5% (No. of positive cases = 2) in Sawakin and 2.0% (No. of positive cases = 8) in
Animal quarantine. Statistically the difference between the sites was not significant (Chi- square =
3.641 df = 4 P-value = 0.457 > 0.05. Furthermore, sero-prevalence rate in females was 8.3% (No.
of positive cases =33) and in males was 2.5% (No. of positive cases = 10). Strong relationship was
obtained for sex and occurrence of the camel brucellosis (Chi- square = 8.414 df = 1 P-value =
0.004 < 0.01e). Application of logistic regression model revealed that sex could be a risk factor for
the disease (Odds Ratio = 2.868 & 95% CI = 1.372 – 5.996). In contrast, no association was
observed for age and presence of the disease (Chi-square = 3.506 df = 2 P-value 0.173 > 0.05).
Hence, risk estimate statistics cannot be computed for the age. A total of the 400 serum samples
collected from Red Sea State, only 43 samples that were positive with mRBPT were chosen for
examination with cELISA as confirmatory test; the later test showed 30 sero-positive. Seroprevalence
rate of camel brucellosis using mRBPT was relatively high in the State. Hence,
comprehensive control programme which include serological diagnosis followed by vaccination are
recommended.
Keyword : Camel (Camelus dromedaries) brucellosis, mRBPT, cELISA, Sudan.