ABSTRACT
Abstract: Background and Objectives: Brucellosis is a bacterial zoonosis causing high economic losses worldwide. Because of nonspecific and chronic symptoms, diagnosis requires high clinical suspicion and laboratory confirmation. Prevalence of brucellosis in India, more so in Anand district, is not well studied. This study was conducted as a pilot to find prevalence of human brucellosis among high risk symptomatic cases along with the clinical profile and associated risk factors. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in Anand district of Gujarat, India. Samples from 50 high risk symptomatic cases were subjected to serology, blood culture and genome detection by conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) using B4/B5 primers, for detection of brucella infection. Data was analyzed using Epi Info software (version: 3.5.1). Results: We detected sero-prevalence of 14% and genome detection of 16% with no isolation in blood culture. Among them four (8%) were positive by serology and PCR both. Titers in seropositive cases ranged from 1:40 to 1:160. Fever was the most common clinical complain among sero-positive (71.4%) and PCR positive (62.5%) cases. History of direct contact with cattle was present in all serology and PCR positive patients. Consumption of unpasteurized milk or milk products (86%), consumption of uncooked or partially cooked meat (28.5%) and working as veterinarian (14.3%) were other risk factors identified. Conclusions: Thus we found brucellosis to be a significant health problem. A larger Indian study with follow up of positive cases, comparative study for standardization of various diagnostic modalities and response to therapy is strongly needed.