The relationship between some risk factors and seroconversion to brucellosis in Gachsaran, Iran

Brucellosis, or Malta fever, is one of the common diseases in humans and livestock that causes many health problems and economic losses. Therefore, this study investigated the frequency of seroconversion of persons with brucellosis symptoms in Gachsaran, Iran from ۲۰۱۶ to ۲۰۱۷. In this study, ۱۳۷۹ people (age range of ۱۰-۷۰ years) with clinical symptoms of brucellosis were monitored by standard agglutination test (SAT, Wright's Agglutination Test) who referred to the pathobiology laboratory from the beginning of ۲۰۱۶ to the end of ۲۰۱۷. In this monitoring, the individuals with a titer greater than or equal to ۱: ۳۲۰ (based SAT) and greater than or equal to ۱: ۱۶۰ (based ۲ME) were selected. Using questionnaires, data on gender, contact with livestock, and dairy consumption behavior were collected. The study variables were analyzed using a chi-square test (p≤۰.۰۵).There was no significant difference in the incidence of brucellosis between men and women (p = ۰.۱۶), but direct contact with livestock (p = ۰.۰۰۱), history of unpasteurized dairy consumption (p = ۰.۰۰۱), occupation (p = ۰.۰۰۱) and location (p = ۰.۰۰۱) had a significant effect on infectivity to brucellosis. Based on the results of this study, apart from gender, other factors are the most important causes of seroconversion of persons to brucellosis.

Keywords:

Epidemiology , Zoonotic disease , Brucellosis , Risk factor , Iran