Brucellosis Can Bankrupt You. Don't Let It!

A widespread problem in sub-Saharan Africa, bovine brucellosis can cripple a cattle or dairy farming operation. As no cure is available, all infected animals are required by law to be slaughtered. This makes prevention and control of the disease a crucial aspect of a cattle operation.

- Lindi Botha

Bovine brucellosis, also known as contagious abortion, is reported across all nine provinces of South Africa, particularly in the central and Highveld regions. The disease causes abortion in cattle, resulting in severe reproduction and production losses and drastically reducing financial turnover. It can infect most other mammals, including humans.

Symptoms are often vague and may resemble other diseases. Frequent testing of the herd is imperative to ensure that an outbreak is detected as early as possible.

Dr Peter Oberem, CEO of Afrivet, says that because the state veterinary services’ rigorous tuberculosis and brucellosis control programmes were halted, the true extent of the disease is unknown.

“It can, however, be clearly stated that the situation is bad and a threat to food security, food safety and human health. Fortunately […], probably all the milk sold via the major dairies and chain stores is pasteurised and/or UHT, and hence safe for human consumption.”

CAUSE AND SPREAD

Bovine brucellosis is caused by the Brucella abortus bacterium, and is highly contagious. Cattle usually get the disease from contaminated feed or water, or after licking an infected afterbirth, calf or cow. Infected animals remain carriers of the disease for the rest of their lives. Brucellosis is a state controlled disease, and positive animals must be reported to the state vet immediately.

Dr Faffa Malan, manager of the Ruminant Veterinary Association of South Africa, stresses that a single infected animal can rapidly infect the rest of the herd if not identified and slaughtered before calving.

He warns that if an animal has recently been bought into the herd from an auction or another herd without the CA3 declaration as proof that the herd of origin was recently tested for bovine brucellosis, the animal could be positive or latently positive.