SEROPREVALENCE OF BRUCELLOSIS IN DONKEYS AND MULES IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN.

ABSTRACT: Donkeys and mules are neglected animals of livestock family. In donkeys and mules, brucellosis seroprevalence was checked in present study. A 22 mules and 160 donkeys serum samples were collected(Faisalabad and its surrounding area). After initial screening with Rose Bengal Plate test(RBPT), positive samples were again validated with Serum Agglutination test(SAT). A 4.4 and 3.75% brucellosis positive samples were recorded by RBPT and SAT, respectively in donkeys. However, this percentage was 9.1% by RBPT and SAT in mules. Source wise prevalence in donkeys was 0%, 33.3% and 3.2% from Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh and private animals, respectively. In mules, prevalence of 11.8%(male) and 0%(female) whereas in donkeys, seroprevalence of 1.35%(male) and 3.4%(females) was recorded. Seroprevalence of 3.27% was recorded in donkeys of 1-5 years of age while 4.1% was noted in 6-10, 3.44% in 11-15 and 0% above 15 years of age. Prevalence of 8.82%, 3.84% and 2.08% was recorded in good, fair, and poor body conditioned donkeys, respectively. Whereas prevalence of 14.28%, 12.5% and 14.28% was noted in good, fair and poor body conditioned mules, respectively. Brucellosis prevalence was 8.83% in donkeys of foaling 0, 8.70% of foaling 1, 8.57% of foaling 2, 10% of foaling 3 and 12% of foaling above 3. In donkeys, all tested parameters(body condition, age, parity and sex) excluding source of samples have non-significant influence at brucellosis prevalence. All tested parameters were nonsignificant in mules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]