Brucellosis in Ruminant Animals and Adopted Strategy for its Control in Albania

¹PhD student, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania
²Institute of Food Safety and Veterinary, Tirana, Albania
³Veterinary Directorate of Albania, Ministria e Bujqesise dhe Zhvillimit Rural, Sheshi Skënderbej 2, Tirana, Albania
⁴PAZA II experts, Rruga Aleksandër Moisiu 82, Tirana, Albania
⁵Veterinary Public Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania

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Abstract

Brucellosis is an important bacterial disease in animals and human. It is one of major neglected zoonotic diseases and more than half million humans are infected annually. In Albania, Brucella melitensis and B. abortus circulate in both large and small ruminants. Application of a national control strategy to control sheep and goat brucellosis and a recently applied control programme to control bovine brucellosis in large dairy herds have played a significant role in reducing the risk of disease transmission and the number of human cases. The correct application of the current approved strategy to control sheep and goat brucellosis, extending the present bovine brucellosis control programme to include small dairy herds, and designing an appropriate strategy to control bovine brucellosis in beef herds will ensure improved control of brucellosis.

Keywords: Bovine, sheep and goat brucellosis, B. melitensis, B. abortus, control strategy.