Original Research

Serological survey of Brucella canis in dogs in urban Harare and selected rural communities in Zimbabwe

Simbarashe Chinyoka, Solomon Dhliwayo, Lisa Marabini, Keith Dutlow, Gift Matope, Davies M. Pfukenyi
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association | Vol 85, No 1 | a1087 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v85i1.1087 | © 2014 Simbarashe Chinyoka, Solomon Dhliwayo, Lisa Marabini, Keith Dutlow, Gift Matope, Davies M. Pfukenyi | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 18 July 2013 | Published: 07 April 2014

About the author(s)

Simbarashe Chinyoka, Department of Clinical Veterinary Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Solomon Dhliwayo, Department of Clinical Veterinary Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Lisa Marabini, AWARE Trust Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
Keith Dutlow, AWARE Trust Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
Gift Matope, Department of Paraclinical Veterinary Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Davies M. Pfukenyi, Department of Clinical Veterinary Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted in order to detect antibodies for Brucella canis (B. canis) in dogs from urban Harare and five selected rural communities in Zimbabwe. Sera from randomly selected dogs were tested for antibodies to B. canis using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Overall, 17.6% of sera samples tested (57/324, 95% CI: 13.5–21.7) were positive for B. canis antibodies. For rural dogs, seroprevalence varied from 11.7% – 37.9%. Rural dogs recorded a higher seroprevalence (20.7%, 95% CI: 15.0–26.4) compared with Harare urban dogs (12.7%, 95% CI: 6.9–18.5) but the difference was not significant (p = 0.07). Female dogs from both sectors had a higher seroprevalence compared with males, but the differences were not significant (p > 0.05). Five and two of the positive rural dogs had titres of 1:800 and 1:1600, respectively, whilst none of the positive urban dogs had a titre above 1:400. This study showed that brucellosis was present and could be considered a risk to dogs from the studied areas. Further studies are recommended in order to give insight into the epidemiology of brucellosis in dogs and its possible zoonotic consequences in Zimbabwe. Screening for other Brucella spp. (Brucella abortus, Brucella melitensis and Brucella suis) other than B. canis is also recommended.

Keywords

Antibodies; Brucella canis: Dogs; Harare; rural communities; Zimbabwe

Metrics

Total abstract views: 4087
Total article views: 11123

 

Crossref Citations

1. Brucella spp. detection in blood, semen and vaginal swabs in dogs from the urban area of Cuiabá/MT, Brazil
Sara Maria Dantas da Nóbrega Dias, Thalita Priscila Peres Seabra da Cruz, Antônio Henrique Kuczmarski, Luciano Nakazato, Valeria Dutra, Regina Célia Rodrigues da Paz
Ciência Rural  vol: 53  issue: 12  year: 2023  
doi: 10.1590/0103-8478cr20220455

2. Global epidemiology and diagnostic insights into canine brucellosis: A comprehensive meta-analysis and meta-regression
Maryam Dadar, Yadolah Fakhri, Youcef Shahali, Manuela Tittarelli, Flavio Sacchini, Fabrizio De Massis
One Health  vol: 21  first page: 101225  year: 2025  
doi: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2025.101225

3. Canine Brucellosis: An Update
Renato L. Santos, Tayse D. Souza, Juliana P. S. Mol, Camila Eckstein, Tatiane A. Paíxão
Frontiers in Veterinary Science  vol: 8  year: 2021  
doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.594291

4. Seroprevalencia de Brucella canis en perros de un refugio para animales de compañía en Bogotá, Colombia
Astrid-Jullieth Laverde, Daniela Restrepo-Botero, Diego Hernández-Pulido, José Luis Rodríguez-Bautista, Isabel-Sofía Sandoval
Biomédica  vol: 41  issue: 2  first page: 260  year: 2021  
doi: 10.7705/biomedica.5409

5. Identification of Dendritic Cell Maturation, TLR, and TREM1 Signaling Pathways in the Brucella canis Infected Canine Macrophage Cells, DH82, Through Transcriptomic Analysis
Woo Bin Park, Suji Kim, Soojin Shim, Han Sang Yoo
Frontiers in Veterinary Science  vol: 8  year: 2021  
doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.619759

6. Gene expression of Toll-like receptors, cytokines and a nuclear factor and cytokine secretion in DH82 canine macrophage cells infected with Brucella canis
Woo Bin Park, Suji Kim, Su Min Kyung, Eun-Seo Lee, Young-Ju Lee, Han Sang Yoo
Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology  vol: 260  first page: 110607  year: 2023  
doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2023.110607

7. Risk factors and level of awareness of canine brucellosis in Jos, Plateau state, Nigeria
Abdullateef Momoh Habiba, Ogbaji Ijale Gabriel, Ajogi Ikwe, Chukwuma Okolocha Emmanuel
Journal of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health  vol: 7  issue: 2  first page: 39  year: 2015  
doi: 10.5897/JVMAH2014.0333

8. Molecular characterization of Brucella species from Zimbabwe
Maphuti Betty Ledwaba, Calvin Gomo, Kgaugelo Edward Lekota, Philippe Le Flèche, Ayesha Hassim, Gilles Vergnaud, Henriette van Heerden, Ana LTO Nascimento
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases  vol: 13  issue: 5  first page: e0007311  year: 2019  
doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007311

9. Canine Brucellosis: Insights Into the Epidemiologic Situation in Europe
Gesine Buhmann, Frauke Paul, Werner Herbst, Falk Melzer, Georg Wolf, Katrin Hartmann, Andrea Fischer
Frontiers in Veterinary Science  vol: 6  year: 2019  
doi: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00151

10. Comparison of BP26, Omp25 and Omp31 and a Multiepitope-Based Fusion Protein in the Serological Detection of Canine Brucellosis
Meixue Yao, Mengda Liu, Xia Chen, Jianjun Li, Yan Li, Yu Run Wei, Yong Liu, Kang Long Yang, Xiaoxiao Duan, Weixing Shao, Xiangxiang Sun, Xiaoxu Fan, Shufang Sun, Lili Tian, Dehui Yin, Mingjun Sun
Infection and Drug Resistance  vol: Volume 15  first page: 5301  year: 2022  
doi: 10.2147/IDR.S374432