Farm Prevalence of Bovine Brucellosis, Farmer Awareness, and Local Practices in Small- and Medium-Scale Cattle Farms in a Tropical Region of Ecuador

A cross-sectional study was conducted on bovine brucellosis in a sample of 173 medium/small-scale cattle farmers in a tropical region of Ecuador. A total of 173 milk tank samples were collected and analyzed through an indirect ELISA. A survey was also applied to each farm to collect information on herd management, evaluate the level of knowledge about the disease and estimate the risk that bovine brucellosis on those farms could represent for public health. The apparent prevalence among farms was 11.5% (95% CI: 6.7%-16.2%). The medium farms had a prevalence significantly higher (23.8%, 95% CI: 10.9%-36.6%, p<0.0001) than the small farms (7.6%, 95% CI: 4.5%-9%). Two multivariable analysis were conducted to identify risk factors associated with bovine brucellosis or reproductive disorders. Medium farms had 3.7 more odds to be infected than the small farms (OR: 3.7, 95% CI: 1.39-9.84, p=0.008). Incineration/burial of abortion material was identified as a protective factor (OR: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.14-0.98, p=0.04). Farm size and brucellosis were identified as risk factors for the occurrence of reproductive disorders. Only 25% of the farmers were aware of bovine brucellosis. Unpasteurized curdled milk was regularly consumed and marketed on 112 farms of which 14 were positive for bovine brucellosis. Highly at-risk practices, such as manipulation of aborted fetuses were also reported. These results indicate that there is a need to develop public health education programs targeted at medium/small-scale farmers in Ecuador.