Brucellosis is recognized as an infectious zoonosis that has massive economic and public health consequences globally. The ailment is prevalent in livestock population of Pakistan including Punjab. A cross sectional study was conducted in order to elaborate the seroprevalence and risk factors of bovine brucellosis infection in commercial livestock population of district Chakwal, Pakistan. A total of 21 commercial livestock farms from where necessarily data and blood specimens of 12 animals were collected and 15 animals were sampled from one semen production unit. Blood specimens of 255 animals from 21 farms were analyzed with the aid of Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and Indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay (i-ELISA). In overall Seroprevalence of 7.45% was recorded for bovine brucellosis infection. Non-significant (p˃0.05) difference was recorded between mean age of infected and non-infected animals. Highest seropositivity was recorded for exotic cattle (25%) whereas that of lowest (1.53%) was recorded for local breed. Significant (p<0.05) association of infection was recorded with exotic breed, abortion history and first trimester of pregnancy with odds ratios of 31.64, 6.60 and 3.28 respectively. Similarly, highest risk ratios were also recorded for exotic breed (26.56), abortion history (5.30) and first trimester of pregnancy (2.89). Analysis of 255 blood specimens through RBPT revealed 8.63% seropositivity whereas that of 7.45% (n=19) when scrutinized through i-ELISA technique. Diagnostic accuracy of 92.55% was noted for RBPT. There is need to launch control programs against this notorious ailment bovine brucellosis to diminish its impact on human vigor and animal production.

Key Words

                   Seroprevalence, livestock, exotic cattle, bovine brucellosis, diagnostic accuracy