SEROLOGICAL EVIDENCE FOR Brucella INFECTION IN CHICKENS IN BENUE STATE, NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA

Nigeria has a large population of livestock with most animals and poultry kept under traditional husbandry that allows multiple species on the same farm. The aim of the study was to provide serological evidence of brucellosis in chickens as they may be a source of infection with brucella. Serum samples from local chickens on free range and exotic broiler birds on deep-litter were collected over a 12 month period from 4 high livestock density areas of the state namely Gboko, Katsina Ala, Makurdi and Otukpo. The samples were tested using the Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT) as a screening test and positive reactors were further tested using the serum agglutination test (SAT) as a confirmation test. Eighty four (10.9%) of the total 773 samples screened were reactors in the RBPT while twenty four (3.1%) were positive to the SAT. Seventy three (11.3%) of the 648 local chickens tested were positive to the RBPT and twenty one (3.2%) were reactors in the SAT. Eleven (8.8%) of the 125 samples from exotic birds were positive in the RBPT while three (2.4%) were SAT reactors. Local chickens had insignificantly (P > 0.05) higher agglutinating antibodies than exotic birds.  Brucella infection is present in both local chickens and exotic broiler birds in the study area; chickens may serve as a source of infection to other livestock and humans. There is need for a large scale epidemiological investigation of the disease in chickens