Brucellosis remains a neglected disease in District Muzaffargarh of Pakistani Punjab: A call for multidisciplinary collaboration

Abstract

Brucellosis is a significant zoonotic infection of Pakistani ruminants. Muzaffargarh is a historically and agriculturally important district of Pakistan, and the data on brucellosis remains scarce in this district. To overcome this gap, a preliminary study was performed on a limited number of serum samples collected from randomly selected cattle to estimate the occurrence of brucellosis. Serological examination of fifty-three sera using Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and Serum Agglutination Test (SAT) was followed by molecular diagnosis by applying the Brucella genus-specific real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Only four samples (7.54%) were seropositive by RBPT and SAT, and only one sample (1.88%) was positive by RT-PCR. The results point toward a persistent zoonotic threat in cattle in the district and the potential spillover infection when close contact with other animal species. Therefore, pasteurization of milk and regular screening of animals is recommended to prevent transmission. Brucellosis is still a neglected disease in District Muzaffargarh; however, further studies are required to estimate the current situation; meanwhile, the potential risk of positive cases has to be considered.