Table 1 Questionnaire pertained to the matter of biosecurity, reproductive health of the livestock, maintenance of cattle sheds and knowledge of zoonoses
S.N. | Issue addressed | Relevance to Brucellosis |
|---|---|---|
1. | Consumption of raw milk and Application of raw milk on cracked lips | Infected buffalo secrete large amounts of Brucella in their milk. |
2. | Assisting animal birth, application of intrauterine medication post abortion, disposing aborted foetus and placenta with naked hands. | Uterine fluid, Placental membranes, aborted foetus of infected buffalo during parturition or abortion are rich sources of Brucella. |
3. | History of abortion and retained placenta | The seroprevalence of brucellosis is found to be significantly higher in animals with a history of abortion and retained placenta. |
4. | Knowledge about Brucellosis or any other zoonoses and S19 vaccine | Knowledge about a disease makes the high risk population cautious and thus prevents the spread. Vaccination of young animals is known to reduce burden of disease. |
5. | Rearing small ruminants with large ruminants | Infectious diseases spillover from small ruminants to large ruminants and cause huge economic loss. |
6. | Sleeping in cattle sheds | Close contact with buffalo is a risk factor identified for human Brucellosis. |
7. | Blood testing before sale and purchase of cattle | Diagnosis of brucellosis may curb the sale of non-productive buffalo and curb the spread of disease. |
8. | Separation of sick animals | Intermingling of sick buffalo or domesticated cattle like Bos sp. with healthy buffalo may facilitate the transmission of brucellosis to susceptible cattle. |
9. | Use of disinfectant to clean the cattle shed | Disinfectants lyse the gram negative bacteria and thus remove infection from the environment of the cattle shed. |