Abstract
This work has been formulated to determine the special geographical distribution of brucellosis in camels in Sudan’s Kordofan States (North, West and South) and to compare different diagnostic tests for their sensitivity, specificity and agreement. In this study we used competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) as the gold standard as compared with the modified Rose Bengal test (mRBPT), Buffer Acidified Plate Antigen (BAPA), and Serum Agglutination Test (SAT). The study area was chosen according to movement of camels and high densities of camels and ruminants. A total of 388 apparently healthy camels were sampled during the period from May to December 2018 to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis. Within the collected samples, 43 (11.08%), 41 (10.56%) and 30 (7,73%) were found positive by mRBPT, BAPA, and SAT respectively. The 43 mRBPT positive samples were tested by cELISA where 38/43 (88.4%) were confirmed positive. Using cELISA as the gold standard, a sensitivity of 52.4% and a specificity of 100% were recorded for BAPA and a sensitivity of 58.8% and a specificity of 83.3% for SAT. KAPPA coefficient agreement between cELISA and BAPA (16%) and between cELISA and SAT (31%) mean there is poor agreement between cELISA as a golden standard test and the other two tests (≤40 consider poor). The results of this study revealed that brucellosis occurs in camels from the Western States, which confirms and extends earlier findings regarding the widespread infection in camels in the Western Sudan. Accordingly with a map of camel brucellosis distribution, we acknowledge that control measures can be more effectively targeted in high prevalence areas like the Skiekan locality. Brucella organisms that infect camels are contagious for humans, and the disease is considered to have an economic impact as it affects reproduction, production, and camel trade; and it needs much more attention to attain successful control.
