Sains Malaysiana 46(6)(2017): 933–943

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2017-4606-13

Seroprevalence of Brucellosis among Farmers and Veterinary Technical Staff in Peninsular Malaysia

(Seroprevalens Bruselosis dalam Kalangan Peladang dan Kakitangan Teknikal Veterinar di Semenanjung Malaysia)

P.H. BAMAIYI¹, L. HASSAN¹*, S. KHAIRANI-BEJO¹, M. ZAINALABIDIN², A. ADZHAR³, N. MOKHTAR³, M. RAMLAN⁴, P. CHANDRAWATHANI⁴, N. HAMIDAH⁵, N. ABDULLAH⁶, A.M. HUSNA MAIZURA⁷ & B.V. KHEBIR⁸

¹Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

²Department of Agribusiness and Information System, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

³Department of Veterinary Services, 62630 Putrajaya, Federal Territory, Malaysia

⁴Veterinary Research Institute, 31400 Ipoh, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia

⁵Department of Veterinary Services, 40630 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

⁶Department of Veterinary Services, 71770 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus, Malaysia

⁷Disease Control Division, Zoonosis Section, Ministry of Health, 62590 Putrajaya, Federal Territory, Malaysia

⁸Department of Public Health, School of Allied Health Sciences, Kampala International University Western Campus, Uganda

Diserahkan: 3 Mac 2016/Diterima: 7 November 2016

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with brucellosis in farmers, veterinary technical staff and other volunteers in Peninsular Malaysia using the One Health concept. A cross sectional study design was employed to sample a population of farmers and Veterinary technical staff on a volunteer basis. The Brucella Coombs test was used to elucidate the seroprevalence of brucellosis in the sampled population and the associated factors and predictors for brucellosis. The seroprevalence of brucellosis among farmers and non-farmers (veterinary technical staff and others) of 446 people studied was 1.35% (95% CI=0.28-2.42). Occupation, age and drinking unpasteurized milk were significant risk factors for brucellosis using multivariate logistic regression at 90% confidence level. The odds of having brucellosis increased by 7.19 times in farmers compared to non-farmers (90% CI=1.16, 44.71), it increased 7.16 times in individuals 40 years and below compared with those above 40 years old (90% CI=1.16, 44.41) and 4.45 times among those who drink unpasteurized milk compared to those who do not (90% CI= 1.03, 19.15). This study highlights the current state of human brucellosis in Malaysia among those groups that are occupationally at risk. A nationwide health education of the occupationally exposed population especially farmers may decrease the incidence of the infection and support the on-going eradication efforts of brucellosis in Malaysia.

Keywords: Brucellosis; farmers; Malaysia; seroprevalence; veterinary staff

ABSTRAK

Satu kajian telah dijalankan untuk menentukan seroprevalens dan faktor risiko kaitan antara bruselosis dalam kalangan peladang, pekerja teknikal veterinar dan sukarelawan di Semenanjung Malaysia menggunakan konsep One Health. Kajian keratan lintang digunakan untuk persampelan dalam populasi peladang dan pekerja teknikal veterinar secara sukarela. Ujian Coombs bagi Brucella digunakan untuk menjelaskan seroprevalens bruselosis dalam kalangan sampel dan kaitan antara faktor dan ramalan untuk bruselosis. Seroprevalens bagi bruselosis dalam kalangan peladang dan bukan peladang (pekerja teknikal veterinar dan sukarelawan) yang berjumlah 446 orang ialah 1.35% (95% CI=0.28-2.42). Pekerjaan, umur dan minum susu yang tidak dipasteur merupakan faktor risiko yang signifikan bagi bruselosis apabila diuji dengan regrasi logistik multivarian pada aras keyakinan 90%. Ramalan untuk mendapat bruselosis meningkat sebanyak 7.19 kali dalam kalangan peladang berbanding bukan peladang (90% CI=1.16, 44.41) dan 4.45 kali dalam kalangan mereka yang minum susu yang tidak dipasteur berbanding dengan yang tidak minum susu (90% CI= 1.03, 19.15). Kajian ini menggambarkan keadaan semasa kejadian bruselosis dalam kalangan pekerja yang terlibat dengan perladangan. Pendidikan kesihatan perlu dijalankan dalam kalangan pekerja terutamanya peladang agar dapat menurunkan kadar jangkitan penyakit di samping sokongan berterusan dalam usaha pembanterasan bruselosis di Malaysia.

Kata kunci: Bruselosis; kakitangan veterinar; Malaysia; petani; seroprevalens

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: latiffah@upm.edu.my