Using Competitive ELISA for Accurate Diagnosis of Brucellosis in Humans in Alexandria Province with Emphasis on the Disease Epidemiology

A total of 300 human serum samples were examined by RBPT and c. ELISA to estimate the prevalence of brucellosis in humans in Alexandria Province and to investigate the epidemiological pattern of such disease among humans. It was found that the overall seroprevalence of brucellosis in humans through RBPT and c. ELISA was 14.67, and 11.67%, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that there was a significant association at (P 0.0001) between the seroprevalence of brucellosis among human beings in relation to place of residence where the highest prevalence was noticed in El- Aameria (18.40%) followed by Gharb (17.86%), Borg El Arab (16.66%), Sharq (13.33%), El Montazah (13.24%) and Wasat (12.5%). On contrary, all the examined samples that were collected from El- Gomrok were found to be negative. In addition, the results clarified that 25% of the examined samples collected from patients complaining of fever were found to be positive for brucellosis. On the other side, only 7.78% of the examined samples of apparently healthy individuals were found to be positive for brucellosis with significant association. Sex based seroprevalence showed that males prevalence (16.67%) was higher than that in female (12.12%) with significant association at (P 0.05). Also, age based seroprevalence showed that the highest prevalence was observed in the age group (20 - ˂ 40 years) (19.75%) followed by the age group (˂ 20 years) (13.48%) then the age group (40 - ˂ 60 years) (12.79%) and lastly the age group (˃ 60 years) (11.36%) with non-significant association between different age groups and prevalence of human brucellosis with significant association at (P 0.01). Moreover, the highest seroprevalence was observed in farmers (16.30%) followed by housewives (14.25%), animals attendants (14.10%), veterinarians (11.11%), slaughterhouse workers (8.33%) and finally veterinary students (0.59%) with significant association at (P 0.01) between different occupations and prevalence of human brucellosis. Under the conditions in the current study and according to the data obtained, it is concluded that brucellosis is still remaining a problem in Alexandria province and it was threatening human population through direct and indirect transmission. Also, the prevalence of the disease is significantly associated with health status, sex, age and occupation while it is non-significantly associated with manner of milk consumption, locality and the type of animal contact.