Brucellosis 2003 proceedings - PHIDIAS

Keynote Lectures
AN OVERVIEW OF THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF BRUCELLOSIS IN SELECTED
COUNTRIES.
W. Amanfu 1 , D. Ward 1 , L. Pite 2 , A. El Idrissi 1 . (1) Animal Production and Health Division, Food and
Agriculture Organization of the UN, Rome-Italy. (2) Formerly of the Animal Production and Health
Division, FAO/UN, Rome-Italy.
Brucellosis is still a major disease problem in the Mediterranean region,
western Asia, parts of Africa and Latin America. The Animal Production and Health
Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, (UN)
has primary responsibility for providing science based support to member countries
to promote animal health and productivity. The Division recognizes the need for
integration of human and animal health activities where zoonotic diseases affect
human health and also livestock productivity and economics. Of particular
importance is brucellosis, the zoonotic significance of which requires intersectoral
collaboration in its control and subsequent eradication where feasible. FAO
recognizes that for effective control of brucellosis to be achieved, this must be based
on firm understanding of the epidemiological factors at play in these countries. To
achieve this implies the effective use of disease intelligence and surveillance,
support for institutional strengthening of veterinary services, international coordination
and collaboration, the development of sound strategies and policies for
animal disease management and facilitating the sustainable and productive use of
animal and other natural resources in an integrated manner. FAO over the years has
provided or facilitated the provision of technical advice and in some cases, logistic
support to the control of brucellosis in particular regions/countries of the world which
have recognized brucellosis as a disease of major economic and zoonotic
significance and have therefore sought the Organization’s support in its control. This
presentation will discuss brucellosis particularly its epidemiological factors, sociocultural
determinants and livestock management systems encountered in
participating countries of the Regional Animal Disease Surveillance and Control
Network for North Africa, the Middle East and the Arab Peninsula (RADISCON)
project, in Kosovo (Balkans), Tajikistan and Mongolia (Eurasia), and selected
countries of sub-Saharan Africa.
EPIDEMIOLOGY OF BRUCELLOSIS: CONSEQUENCES IN TERMS OF
CONTROL STRATEGY.
B. Garin-Bastuji. National and OIE/FAO Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis. Agence Française de
Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments (AFSSA), Maisons-Alfort, France.
Brucellosis is an important zoonotic disease widely distributed in both humans
and animals throughout the world except for the growing number of countries where
eradication in has been achieved (W. Amanfu, this symposium). The infection has
been identified in most domestic animal species, primarily ruminants, camelids and
swine but also horses and carnivores, and in several wild animal species (D. Ewalt,
this Symposium). The disease is responsible for economic losses due to abortions,
infertility and drop in milk production. A host specificity is commonly accepted (B.
abortus in large ruminants, B. melitensis in small ruminants, B. suis in swine) but
there are a lot of exceptions, B. melitensis in cattle being the most common. B.
melitensis and the biovars 1 and 3 of B. suis are the more pathogenic for humans
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