**1.4 Africa and Asia**

*Bacterial Cattle Diseases*

i.*B. abortus*

ii.*B. melitensis*

iii.*B. suis*

iv.*B canis*

v.*B. ovis*

whales [4].

discharge.

*1.3.1 Animal*

infected cow [6, 7].

and *undulant fever* [9, 10].

*1.3.2 Humans*

calving.

vi.*B. neotomae*—desert rat

affecting cattle. *Brucella canis* also affects dogs.

**1.2 Socioeconomic effect of brucellosis**

**1.3 Transmission of bovine brucellosis**

The disease affects cattle, goat, sheep, pigs, buffaloes, camels and reindeer, and other animals may be less frequently affected. All the above diseases cause *brucellosis*, but of significance to man and animals worldwide are three species *Brucella suis* affecting pigs, *Brucella melitensis* affecting small ruminants and *Brucella abortus*

Recent research shows that Brucella causes pinnipedialis in seals and *ceti* sp. in

Brucella causes abortion in pregnant cow or premature calving, death of young animals, birth of weak calves, stillbirth, delayed calving, sterility, retained placenta, male infertility followed by a decrease in milk yield [1, 5]. The death is due to *mastitis* and *hygromas* in African cattle. *Vesiculitis, epididymis* and *orchitis* are characteristic in the bull which sometimes leads to *testicular abscesses, metritis* and life infertility. In pregnant animals, a visible swelling of the mammary gland around the naval region followed by bleeding from the vagina is not common in pregnant animals infected with *Brucella*. Enlargement of the udder indicates a high level of bacteria in shredded milk, urine and vagina

Bacteria are excreted with the fetus, the placenta and uterine fluid during

Animals' discharge the organism after parturition, abortion or via milk of

Human *brucellosis* has different names based on the region in which the disease occurred. They named it *Malta fever*, because Dr. Bruce discovered the disease in this town, *Cyprus or Mediterranean fever*, *rocky fever of Gibraltar*, *intermitted typhoid*

Fever is a general symptom across all human patients. Uterus infection with fetal death accompanied by general malaise, fatigue and arthritis with chronic

Vertical transmission is through calves or lamb in the uterus [1, 8]. Transmission can occur through contaminated water and feed.

Infected breeding bulls transmit infection via semen.

**36**

Brucellosis is one of the most widespread bacterial zoonotic diseases in the world. It affects both humans and domestic and wild animals [16]. WHO reports about 500,000 cases of human brucellosis every year [17]. An economic impact assessment conducted in both Africa and Asia in 2013 by McDermott et al. [18] shows that the disease is endemic across Africa and Asia continents and responsible for most of the human cases. The disease worsens and deprives people in developing countries like sub-Saharan Africa of the much-needed protein. Poverty is a driving force of brucellosis especially in communities where people depend heavily on livestock for their livelihood [19].

*Brucella* subtype causes brucellosis in many parts of the world including West Africa. *Brucella abortus biovar* 3 is a common strain that affects cattle [20]. These West African isolates are mostly characterized from autochthonous cattle and hygroma fluid samples. Data are required to assess the potential threats of public health importance both at national and regional levels.
