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

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.Seroprevalence studies showed that brucellosis is prevalent in cattle in Rwanda with no recent study on the characterization of Brucella spp. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize Brucella spp. in seropositive herds of cattle farmed at the wildlife–livestock–human interface. Whole blood samples (n = 118), milk (n = 41), and vaginal swabs (n = 51) were collected from 64 seropositive herds. All samples (n = 210) were inoculated onto modified Centro de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agroalimentaria (CITA) selective medium. Cultures were analyzed to detect Brucella spp. using 16S−23S ribosomal DNA interspacer region (ITS) PCR, the Brucella cultures were speciated using AMOS and Bruce-ladder PCR assays. Brucella spp. were detected in 16.7% (35/210) of the samples established from the samples using ITS-PCR. The AMOS PCR assay identified mixed Brucella abortus and B. melitensis (n = 6), B. abortus (n = 7), and B. melitensis (n = 1) from cultures from blood samples; mixed B. abortus and B. melitensis (n = 1) and B. abortus (n = 4) from cultures from milk samples; mixed B. abortus and B. melitensis (n = 6), B. abortus (n = 8), and B. melitensis (n = 1) from cultures from vaginal swabs. Bruce-ladder PCR assay confirmed B. abortus and B. melitensis cultures. The isolation of Brucella spp. was significantly associated with districts, with the Nyagatare district having more isolates than other districts (p=0.01). This study identified single ormixed B. abortus and B. melitensis 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.The Belgian Directorate- General for Development Cooperation, through its Framework Agreement with the Institute of Tropical Medicine.https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-scienceam2023Veterinary Tropical Disease

Additional file 1 of Investigation of foot and mouth disease virus and other animal pathogens in cattle, buffaloes and goats at the interface with Akagera National Park 2017 – 2020

Additional file 1. Retrieved sequences used in this study

Additional file 2 of Investigation of foot and mouth disease virus and other animal pathogens in cattle, buffaloes and goats at the interface with Akagera National Park 2017 – 2020

Additional file 2. FMD serological NSP results from cattle and goats in Eastern Rwanda