Endemic Brucellosis in Indian Animal and Human Populations: A Billion Dollar Issue Machavarapu Manasa1,2, Poonati Revathi2, Mallepaddi Prudhvi Chand2, Gundlamadugu Vinayachandu V3, Raghavendra Sujaya4, Polavarapu Kavi Kishor B2,3, Polavarapu Rathnagiri1,2,3,* 1Department of Biotechnology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, 522 510, Andhra Pradesh, India 2Genomix Molecular Diagnostics Pvt. Ltd., Prashanthinagar, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, 500 072, India 3Genomix CARL Pvt. Ltd., Rayalapuram Road, Pulivendula-516 390, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India 4Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi-110 001, India *For Correspondence - giri@genomixbiotech.com
Online published on 30 December, 2019. Abstract Brucellosis is a common and neglected zoonotic disease. It is endemic and still an uncontrolled public health problem in many developing countries including India. Present epidemiological data suggest that brucellosis is causing a major economic problem which burdens up to 3.4 billion US dollars per year. Due to insufficient awareness in public, safe livestock practices, trading the infected animals and economic burden of disease diagnosis and vaccination have led to persistence of brucellosis in the country. Paucity of epidemiological data obtained from previous survey programmes is not convincing enough with the degree of the disease prevalence in the country. Since India is sensitive from both religious and economic points of view, control of the disease has become a sensitive issue. Prevention of brucellosis is dependent on conducting adequate health education awareness and control programmes to address the disease depth of the issue in the country. This review discusses epidemiology, diagnostic methods, prevalence, and vaccines along with recent control measures adopted in Indian Scenario. Top Keywords Brucellosis, animal populations, zonotic disease, small ruminants, insufficient awareness, paucity of epidemiological data, awareness and control programmes. Top |