Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Brucellosis in India: results of a collaborative workshop to define One Health priorities

  • Regular Articles
  • Published:
Tropical Animal Health and Production Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Brucellosis is an important zoonosis worldwide. In livestock, it frequently causes chronic disease with reproductive failures that contribute to production losses, and in humans, it causes an often-chronic febrile illness that is frequently underdiagnosed in many low- and middle-income countries, including India. India has one of the largest ruminant populations in the world, and brucellosis is endemic in the country in both humans and animals. In November 2017, the International Livestock Research Institute invited experts from government, national research institutes, universities, and different international organizations to a one-day meeting to set priorities towards a “One Health” control strategy for brucellosis in India. Using a risk prioritization exercise followed by discussions, the meeting agreed on the following priorities: collaboration (transboundary and transdisciplinary); collection of more epidemiological evidence in humans, cattle, and in small ruminants (which have been neglected in past research); Economic impact studies, including cost effectiveness of control programmes; livestock vaccination, including national facilities for securing vaccines for the cattle population; management of infected animals (with the ban on bovine slaughter, alternatives such as sanctuaries must be explored); laboratory capacities and diagnostics (quality must be assured and better rapid tests developed); and increased awareness, making farmers, health workers, and the general public more aware of risks of brucellosis and zoonoses in general. Overall, the meeting participants agreed that brucellosis control will be challenging in India, but with collaboration to address the priority areas listed here, it could be possible.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agasthya, A.S., Isloor, S., and Prabhudas, K., 2007. Brucellosis in high risk group individuals, Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology, 25, 28–31

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ali, S., Ali, Q., Neubauer, H., Melzer, F., Elschner, M., Khan, I., Abatih, E.N., Ullah, N., Irfan, M., and Akhter, S., 2013. Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with brucellosis as a professional hazard in Pakistan, Foodborne Pathogens and Diseases, 10, 500–505

    Google Scholar 

  • Alton, G.G., Corner, L.A., and Plackett, P., 1980. Vaccination of pregnant cows with low doses of Brucella abortus strain 19 vaccine, Australian Veterinary Journal, 56, 369–372

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Amit, K., Amit, K.V., Surya Prasad, V., Srinivas, K., and Reddy, G.S., 2016. Safety and efficacy of reduced dose Brucella abortus Strain – 19 vaccine in non-pregnant zebu cattle (Bos indicus) heifers, Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 86, 136–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Bandyopadhyay, S., Sasmal, D., Dutta, T.K., Ghosh, M.K., Sarkar, M., Sasmal, N.K., and Bhattacharya, M., 2009. Seroprevalence of brucellosis in yaks (Poephagus grunniens) in India and evaluation of protective immunity to S19 vaccine, Tropical Animal Health and Production, 41, 587–592

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barbudde, S.B., Pathak, A.D., Raorane, A.V., Jain, L., Tigga, M., Kurkure, N.V., and Chaudhari, S.P., 2016. Human brucellosis in India: systematized review and meta analysis (unpublished conference paper from the Brucellosis 2016 International Research Conference)

  • Buttigieg, S.C., Savic, S., Cauchi, D., Lautier, E., Canali, M., and Aragrande, M., 2018. Brucellosis control in Malta and Serbia: A One Health evaluation, Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 5, 147

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Chand, P., and Chhabra, R., 2013. Herd and individual animal prevalence of bovine brucellosis with associated risk factors on dairy farms in Haryana and Punjab in India, Tropical Animal Health and Production, 45, 1313–1319

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chand, P., Chhabra, R., and Nagra, J., 2015. Vaccination of adult animals with a reduced dose of Brucella abortus S19 vaccine to control brucellosis on dairy farms in endemic areas of India, Tropical Animal Health and Production, 47, 29–35

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dean, A.S., Crump, L., Greter, H., Hattendorf, J., Schelling, E., and Zinsstag, J., 2012a. Clinical manifestations of human brucellosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis, PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 6, e1929

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Dean, A.S., Crump, L., Greter, H., Schelling, E., and Zinsstag, J., 2012b. Global burden of human brucellosis: A systematic review of disease frequency, PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 6, e1865

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • de Figueiredo, P., Ficht, T.A., Rice-Ficht, A., Rosetti, C.A., and Adams, L.G., 2015. Pathogenesis and immunobiology of brucellosis: Review of Brucella-host interactions, The American Journal of Pathology, 185, 1505–1517

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Fluegel Dougherty, A.M., Cornish, T.E., O’Toole, D., Boerger-Fields, A.M., Henderson, O.L., and Mills, K.W., 2013. Abortion and premature birth in cattle following vaccination with Brucella abortus strain RB51, Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 25, 630–635

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Franc, K.A., Krecek, R.C., Hasler, B.N., and Arenas-Gamboa, A.M., 2018. Brucellosis remains a neglected disease in the developing world: a call for interdisciplinary action, BMC Public Health, 18, 125

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Goodwin, Z.I., and Pascual, D.W., 2016. Brucellosis vaccines for livestock, Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 181, 51–58.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Higgins, J.L., Gonzalez-Juarrero, M., and Bowen, R.A., 2017. Evaluation of shedding, tissue burdens, and humoral immune response in goats after experimental challenge with the virulent Brucella melitensis strain 16M and the reduced virulence vaccine strain Rev. 1, PLoS One, 12, e0185823.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Islam, M.A., Khatun, M.M., Were, S.R., Sriranganathan, N., and Boyle, S.M., 2013. A review of Brucella seroprevalence among humans and animals in Bangladesh with special emphasis on epidemiology, risk factors, and control opportunities, Veterinary Microbiology, 166, 317–326

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Isloor, S., Renukaradhya, G.J., and Rajasekhar, M., 1998. A serological survey of bovine brucellosis in India, Revue Scientifique et Technique, 17, 781–785

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Katoch, S., Dohru, S., Sharma, M., Vashist, V., Chahota, R., Dhar, P., Thakur, A., and Verma, S., 2017. Seroprevalence of viral and bacterial diseases among the bovines in Himachal Pradesh, India, Veterinary World, 10, 1421–1426

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaushik, P, Quasim, A, Kumar, M, Singh, D.K., and Dayal, S, 2010. Seroprevalence of Bovine Brucellosis in and around Patna, Bihar, Journal of Veterinary Public Health, 8, 135–136

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaushik, P., Kumar, M., Anjay, S. Kumari, and Kumar, P., 2016. Sero-prevalence of Bovine Brucellosis in Bihar, India, Journal of Veterinary Public Health, 14, 51–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, P., Singh, D.K., and Barbudde, S.B., 1997. Sero-prevalence of brucellosis among abattoir personnel of Delhi, Journal of Communicable Diseases, 29, 131–137

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lalsiamthara, J., and Lee, J.H., 2017. Development and trial of vaccines against Brucella, Journal of Veterinary Science, 18, 281–290.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Mangalgi, S.S., Sajjan, A.G., Mohite, S.T., and Kakade, S.V., 2015. Serological, clinical, and epidemiological profile of human brucellosis in rural India, Indian Journal of Community Medicine, 40, 163–167

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Mangalgi, S.S., Sajjan, A.G., Mohite, S.T., and Gajul, S., 2016. Brucellosis in occupationally exposed groups, Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 10, DC24-DC27

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meeusen, E.N.T., Walker, J., Peters, A., Pastoret, P.P., and Jungersen, G., 2007. Current status of veterinary vaccines, Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 20, 489–510

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • OIE. Brucellosis. In: Manual of diagnostic tests and vaccines for terrestrial animals 2018. OIE-World Organization for Animal Health. 2018. http://www.oie.int/standard-setting/terrestrial-manual/access-online/ Accessed 04 Dec 2018.

  • Olsen, S.C., and Palmer, M.V., 2014. Advancement of knowledge of Brucella over the past 50 years, Veterinary Pathology, 51, 1076–1089

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Olsen, S.C., and Tatum, F.M., 2016. Swine brucellosis: current perspectives, Veterinary Medicine (Auckland), 8, 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pandian, S.J., Ray, P.K., Chandran, P.C., and Kumar, M., 2015. Seroprevalence of Brucella abortus and Leptospira hardjo in cattle, Veterinary World, 8, 217–220

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Patil, N.B., Damle, A.S., Bhakare, J.B., Iravane, J.A., Khaparkhuntikar, M.N., and Gajbhiye, P.S., 2013. Seropositivity for brucellosis in veterinarians, Journal of Global Infectious Diseases, 5, 87–88

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Perkins, S.D., Smither, S.J., and Atkins, H.S., 2010. Towards a Brucella vaccine for humans, FEMS Microbiology Reviews, 34, 379–394

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pradhan, S., and Singh, B.R.., 2016. Ongoing animal disease control programs in India: Their technical and financial outlay (online presentation). https://www.slideshare.net/singh_br1762/ongoing-disease-control-programmes-in-india. Accessed 26 May 2019.

  • Proch, V., Singh, B.B., Schemann, K., Gill, J.P.S., Ward, M.P., and Dhand, N. K, 2018. Risk factors for occupational Brucella infection in veterinary personnel in India, Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, 65, 791–798

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ragunatha Reddy, R., Prejit, S.B., Vinod, V.K., and Asha, K., 2014. Seroprevalence of brucellosis in slaughter cattle of Kerala, India, Journal of Foodborne and Zoonotic Diseases, 2, 27–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Rajkumar, K., Bhattacharya, A., David, S., Balaji, S.H., Hariharan, R., Jayakumar, R., and Balaji, N., 2016. Socio-demographic study on extent of knowledge, awareness, attitude, and risks of zoonotic diseases among livestock owners in Puducherry region, Veterinary World, 9, 1018–1024

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Rathod, P., Chander, M., and Bangar, Y., 2016. Livestock vaccination in India: an analysis of theory and practice among multiple stakeholders, Revue Scientifique et Technique, 35, 729–735

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roth, F., Zinsstag, J., Orkhon, D., Chimed-Ochir, G., Hutton, G., Cosivi, O., Carrin, G., and Otte, J., 2003. Human health benefits from livestock vaccination for brucellosis: case study, Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 81, 867–876

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sagi, M., Nesher, L., and Yagupsky, P., 2017. The Bactec FX blood culture system detects Brucella melitensis bacteremia in adult patients within the routine 1-week incubation period, Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 55, 942–946

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Schwarz, N.G., Loderstaedt, U., Hahn, A., Hinz, R., Zautner, A.E., Eibach, D., Fischer, M., Hagen, R.M., and Frickmann, H., 2017. Microbiological laboratory diagnostics of neglected tropical diseases (NZDs), Acta Tropica, 165, 40–65.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shamali, Kumar P.A., and Rajesh, C., 2012. Sero-prevalence of brucellosis in occupationally exposed human beings of Himachal Pradesh (India), Journal of Communicable Diseases, 44, 91–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Shome, R., Triveni, K., Padmashree, B.S., Sahay, S., Krithiga, N., Shome, B.R., Krishnamoorthy, P., and Rahman, H., 2015. Spatial distribution of brucellosis in small ruminants of India using indigenously developed ELISA kit, Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology, 9, 2285–2291

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shome, R., Kalleshamurthy, T., Shankaranarayana, P.B., Giribattanvar, P., Chandrashekar, N., Mohandoss, N., Shome, B.R., Kumar, A., Barbuddhe, S.B., and Rahman, H., 2017. Prevalence and risk factors of brucellosis among veterinary health care professionals, Pathogens and Global Health, 111, 234–239

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, B.B., Dhand, N.K., and Gill, J.P., 2015. Economic losses occurring due to brucellosis in Indian livestock populations, Preventative Veterinary Medicine, 119, 211–215

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, B.B., Khatkar, M.S., Aulakh, R.S., Gill, J.P.S., and Dhand, N.K., 2018a. Estimation of the health and economic burden of human brucellosis in India, Preventative Veterinary Medicine, 154, 148–155.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, B.B., Kostoulas, P., Gill, J.P.S., and Dhand, N.K., 2018b. Cost-benefit analysis of intervention policies for prevention and control of brucellosis in India, PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 12, e0006488

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Yohannes, M., and Gill, J.P., 2011. Seroepidemiological survey of human brucellosis in and around Ludhiana, India, Emerging Health Threats, 28, 7361

    Google Scholar 

  • Zinsstag, J., Taleb, M.O., and Craig, P.S., 2006. Health of nomadic pastoralists: new approaches towards equity effectiveness, Tropical Medicine and International Health, 11, 565–568

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge and thank all other participants at the workshop, including Dr. Mohan Papanna, and those facilitating the discussions for their contributions.

Funding

The workshop and the work were supported by a larger project funded by the International Development Research Center, Canada (Grant No. 107344-001), the ICAR-ILRI collaborative projects, the CGIAR system, and the CGIAR research programme on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health. CEV was supported by intramural funds while at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA; no associated grant no.).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Catherine E. Vrentas

    Present address: The Engaged Scientist, Richmond, VA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biosciences, International Livestock Research Institute, Regional Office, 298 Kim Ma Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam

    Johanna F. Lindahl

  2. Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O Box 7054, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden

    Johanna F. Lindahl

  3. Zoonosis Science Centre, Uppsala University, P.O Box 582, SE-751 23, Uppsala, Sweden

    Johanna F. Lindahl

  4. National Animal Disease Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA, 50010, USA

    Catherine E. Vrentas

  5. International Livestock Research Institute, Guwahati Office, Guwahati, 781022, India

    Ram P. Deka

  6. Department of Veterinary Public Health, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara Campus, Guwahati, 781022, India

    Razibuddin A. Hazarika

  7. South Asia Regional Office, NASC Complex, International Livestock Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi, 110012, India

    H. Rahman & B. B. Swain

  8. Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India, Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi, 110001, India

    R. G. Bambal

  9. Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, 141004, India

    J. S. Bedi & J. P. S. Gill

  10. Department of Animal Husbandry, Government of National Capital Territory (NCT), Delhi, India

    C. Bhattacharya

  11. Division of Bacteriology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, 243122, India

    Pallab Chaduhuri

  12. Department of LPT, Veterinary College, Karnataka Veterinary Animal & Fisheries Sciences University Bangalore, Bangalore, 560024, India

    Nadeem Mohamed Fairoze

  13. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi, 110001, India

    R. S. Gandhi

  14. National Centre for Disease Control, 22 Shamnath Marg, Delhi, 110054, India

    N. K. Gupta

  15. Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Bihar Veterinary College, Patna, 800014, India

    M. Kumar

  16. South Asia Regional Programme, World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF), DPS Marg, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110012, India

    S. Londhe

  17. Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, 110029, India

    M. Rahi

  18. ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana, 132001, India

    P. K. Sharma

  19. ICAR-National Institute for Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics, Yelahanka, Bengaluru, 560064, India

    R. Shome

  20. Bihar Animal Sciences University, Patna, 800014, India

    R. Singh

  21. Indian Immunologicals Ltd., Hyderabad, 500030, India

    K. Srinivas

Authors
  1. Johanna F. Lindahl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Catherine E. Vrentas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ram P. Deka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Razibuddin A. Hazarika
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. H. Rahman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. R. G. Bambal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. J. S. Bedi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. C. Bhattacharya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Pallab Chaduhuri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Nadeem Mohamed Fairoze
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. R. S. Gandhi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. J. P. S. Gill
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. N. K. Gupta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. M. Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. S. Londhe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  16. M. Rahi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  17. P. K. Sharma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  18. R. Shome
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  19. R. Singh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  20. K. Srinivas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  21. B. B. Swain
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Catherine E. Vrentas.

Ethics declarations

Disclaimer

Recommendations presented in the manuscript summarize joint recommendations from the workshop and do not reflect official positions of the USDA.

Conflict of interest

Workshop participants represented academic, government, and industry institutions engaged in work related to brucellosis, as indicated from the stated affiliations. No other conflicts of interest are noted.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

This article belongs to the Topical Collection: Dairy Science and Health in the Tropics

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lindahl, J.F., Vrentas, C.E., Deka, R.P. et al. Brucellosis in India: results of a collaborative workshop to define One Health priorities. Trop Anim Health Prod 52, 387–396 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-019-02029-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-019-02029-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation