Seroprevalence survey of brucellosis among rural people in Mongolia

Authors

  • Selenge Tsend National Centre for Communicable Diseases of Mongolia
  • Zolzaya Baljinnyam Animal Health Project of Swiss Development Agency in Mongolia
  • Bujinlkham Suuri National Centre for Communicable Diseases of Mongolia
  • Enkhbayar Dashbal National Centre for Communicable Diseases of Mongolia
  • Baatarkhuu Oidov National University of Medicine, Mongolia
  • Felix Roth Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
  • Jakob Zinstag Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
  • Esther Schelling Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
  • Davaalkham Dambadarjaa National University of Medicine, Mongolia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2014.5.1.002

Abstract

Background: After the transition from socialism to a market economy in 1990, human brucellosis re-emerged in Mongolia. The aim of our study was to estimate a representative seroprevalence of Brucella spp. and to determine risk factors for brucellosis seropositivity among rural people.

Methods: A cross-sectional study with multistage random selection was conducted in eight provinces of Mongolia. Study participants were interviewed using a questionnaire to obtain their brucellosis history, current symptoms and likely risk factors. Blood samples were drawn to determine brucellosis seroprevalence.

Results: A total of 2856 randomly selected rural people aged four to 90 years were enrolled in the study. The seroprevalence of Brucella spp. was 11.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.0–12.1), ranging between 2.3% and 22.6% in the eight provinces; 39.2% (n = 609) of nomadic camps had at least one seropositive participant. Risk factors associated with brucellosis seropositivity were being older than 45 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 6.9, 95% CI = 5.1–8.7) and being a veterinarian (AOR = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.5–5.0).

Conclusion: Our study confirms that human brucellosis seroprevalence among rural people in Mongolia is high. Human brucellosis can be effectively controlled if high-coverage livestock mass vaccination is implemented with a coverage survey after the vaccinations to ensure completeness. This mass vaccination should be accompanied by public awareness and educational programmes.

Author Biography

Selenge Tsend, National Centre for Communicable Diseases of Mongolia

Senior Epidemiologist of Zoonosis and Brucellosis Section of National Centre for Communicable Diseases of Mongolia, Master of Public Health

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Published

11-11-2014

How to Cite

1.
Tsend S, Baljinnyam Z, Suuri B, Dashbal E, Oidov B, Roth F, Zinstag J, Schelling E, Dambadarjaa D. Seroprevalence survey of brucellosis among rural people in Mongolia. Western Pac Surveill Response J [Internet]. 2014 Nov. 11 [cited 2026 Mar. 25];5(4). Available from: https://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/229

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 4 (2014): October – December

Section

Original Research

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