Screening for brucella antibodies among farm workers in Assiut

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted on one hundred persons in brucellosis risky occupation, they were collected from two cattle farms and one sheep farm. The control group included thirty persons. Clinical data revealed that symptoms and signs were not specific for the disease which must be differentiated from other illnesses. SAT and RBT behaved the same, 21 out of 100 persons were positive by both tests. Titers in them were >/ 1/180 or more. Most of the cases were in the University station [eighteen cases] followed by Bani-Mur station [three cases] and no case in El-Hawatka station. This difference may reflect the protective measures applied in the three farms. It was concluded that brucellosis is not uncommon among the farm workers in Assiut. Health education of the workers is of great importance to minimize the transmission of the disease