AUTHOR=Ntivuguruzwa Jean Bosco , Kolo Francis Babaman , Gashururu Richard , Uwibambe Evodie , Musanayire Vestine , Ingabire Angelique , Umurerwa Lydia , Mwikarago Emil Ivan , van Heerden Henriette 

TITLE=Molecular characterization of Brucella spp. from seropositive herds of cattle farmed at the wildlife–livestock–human interface in Rwanda

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.1017851

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2022.1017851

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p>Seroprevalence studies showed that brucellosis is prevalent in cattle in Rwanda with no recent study on the characterization of <italic>Brucella</italic> spp. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize <italic>Brucella</italic> spp. in seropositive herds of cattle farmed at the wildlife–livestock–human interface. Whole blood samples (<italic>n</italic> = 118), milk (<italic>n</italic> = 41), and vaginal swabs (<italic>n</italic> = 51) were collected from 64 seropositive herds. All samples (<italic>n</italic> = 210) were inoculated onto modified Centro de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agroalimentaria (CITA) selective medium. Cultures were analyzed to detect <italic>Brucella</italic> spp. using 16S−23S ribosomal DNA interspacer region (ITS) PCR, the <italic>Brucella</italic> cultures were speciated using AMOS and Bruce-ladder PCR assays. <italic>Brucella</italic> spp. were detected in 16.7% (35/210) of the samples established from the samples using ITS-PCR. The AMOS PCR assay identified mixed <italic>Brucella abortus</italic> and <italic>B. melitensis</italic> (<italic>n</italic> = 6), <italic>B. abortus</italic> (<italic>n</italic> = 7), and <italic>B. melitensis</italic> (<italic>n</italic> = 1) from cultures from blood samples; mixed <italic>B. abortus</italic> and <italic>B. melitensis</italic> (<italic>n</italic> = 1) and <italic>B. abortus</italic> (<italic>n</italic> = 4) from cultures from milk samples; mixed <italic>B. abortus</italic> and <italic>B. melitensis</italic> (<italic>n</italic> = 6), <italic>B. abortus</italic> (<italic>n</italic> = 8), and <italic>B. melitensis</italic> (<italic>n</italic> = 1) from cultures from vaginal swabs. Bruce-ladder PCR assay confirmed <italic>B. abortus</italic> and <italic>B. melitensis</italic> cultures. The isolation of <italic>Brucella</italic> spp. was significantly associated with districts, with the Nyagatare district having more isolates than other districts (<italic>p</italic> = 0.01). This study identified single or mixed <italic>B. abortus and B. melitensis</italic> infections in cattle samples in Rwanda, which emphasizes the need to improve brucellosis control at the wildlife–livestock–human interface and raise the awareness of cattle keepers, abattoir workers, laboratory personnel, and consumers of cattle products.</p>