Seroprevalence and risk factors for bovine brucellosis, salmonellosis and bovine viral diarrhea in urban and peri-urban areas of Kampala, Uganda

Abstract: Africa is expected to go through a rapid urbanization over the next four decades and the demand for food is increasing in the rapidly growing urban and peri-urban (UPU) areas. Keeping livestock in urban areas is in particular associated with health hazards. This is due to close interaction between humans and animals, and it has been shown that zoonotic diseases are increasing in urban areas. The benefits of urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) are related to improved food security, in particular among low-income groups. Apart from the negative public health impact of zoonotic diseases, animal disease could have a devastating impact on the economy and food security of many households in these areas. In the present study, three important endemic diseases, including brucellosis, salmonellosis and Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), were analyzed in regard to seroprevalence and risk factors. Brucellosis is a severe zoonotic disease with impact on both public and animal health and associated with economic losses in most low-income countries. Transmission to humans is mainly through consumption of untreated and contaminated milk products and contact with infected animals. Salmonellosis is an important zoonotic disease with a worldwide distribution. Transmission to humans is mainly through contaminated food. The disease can be severe in both humans and animals. BVD is spread worldwide and is considered to be one of the most economically important cattle diseases, due to decreased production and animal health implications. The aim of this study was to conduct a health survey of cattle in UPU areas of Kampala, the capital of Uganda, to study the prevalence and herd level risk factors of the endemic zoonotic diseases brucellosis and salmonellosis and the endemic disease BVD. In total, 214 blood samples were analyzed using ELISA assays. For brucellosis a seroprevelence of 3% and 11% were shown on animal and herd level respectively. Keeping cattle in the Nakawa division of Kampala was found to be a statistically significant risk factor for brucellosis (p=0.05). For salmonellosis the seroprevalence was 24% and 57% on animal and herd level respectively. No significant risk factors for salmonellosis were found. The seroprevalence for BVD was 23 % on animal level and 39% on herd level. Using a bull for breeding instead of artificial insemination was found to be a statistically significant risk factor for BVD (p=0.02). Since several seropositive cattle for Brucella spp. and Salmonella spp. were found in the UPU areas of Kampala, it is a possibility that transmission of bacteria between cattle and humans may occur. Several seropositive cattle for BVDV were also detected in the study area. A suggestion of measures towards increased bio-security and education for better basic hygiene measures, such as heat preparations of milk and hand sanitation in UPA, could potentially improve both human and animal health status in Kampala, Uganda.