Seroprevalence and Molecular Detection of Brucellosis in Hospitalized Patients in Lahore Hospitals, Pakistan
Brucellosis is one of the most notorious zoonoses worldwide. The disease is common and endemic in humans and animals of Pakistan, but lack of awareness and lack of research have resulted in an increased incidence in the human population. The present study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and at...
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MDPI AG
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Infectious Disease Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7449/13/1/18 |
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| author | Riffat Yousaf Iahtasham Khan Wasim Shehzad Riaz Hussain Shahzad Ali Heinrich Neubauer Gamal Wareth |
| author_facet | Riffat Yousaf Iahtasham Khan Wasim Shehzad Riaz Hussain Shahzad Ali Heinrich Neubauer Gamal Wareth |
| author_sort | Riffat Yousaf |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Brucellosis is one of the most notorious zoonoses worldwide. The disease is common and endemic in humans and animals of Pakistan, but lack of awareness and lack of research have resulted in an increased incidence in the human population. The present study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and at molecular detection of brucellosis in patients with clinical symptoms in six different hospitals from Lahore, which is the capital city of Punjab province. A total of 218 blood samples were collected from hospitalized patients. The samples were initially screened by the Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT), and then quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was applied. An overall seroprevalence of 17% (37/218) was found. The highest prevalence was found at the Lady Health center (36.53%), which was followed by the Lady Willingdon Hospital (28.6%). Female patients showed a higher seroprevalence than males and peaked at 34% (n = 32) for women who suffered from abortion. In total, 16.8% of patients younger than 30 years showed seropositive reactions, while the prevalence was 19% in patients between 31 and 50. Thirty-three DNA samples from 24 seropositive and nine seronegative patients tested positive, 32 samples were found positive for <i>B. abortus</i> DNA, and one sample failed to be identified at the species level. Almost all positive cases had direct contact with animals and consumed unpasteurized dairy products. Research on human brucellosis is still scarce in Pakistan. For the diagnosis of brucellosis, serology and molecular tools should be combined if isolation by culture is not possible. Nationwide control activities and increasing awareness for zoonotic brucellosis are needed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:07:42Z |
| format | Article |
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| issn | 2036-7449 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:07:42Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Infectious Disease Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-0bad1c17876e4d43abc55561a8b7ea8d2023-12-03T12:52:50ZengMDPI AGInfectious Disease Reports2036-74492021-02-0113116617210.3390/idr13010018Seroprevalence and Molecular Detection of Brucellosis in Hospitalized Patients in Lahore Hospitals, PakistanRiffat Yousaf0Iahtasham Khan1Wasim Shehzad2Riaz Hussain3Shahzad Ali4Heinrich Neubauer5Gamal Wareth6Institute of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Lahore 54000, PakistanSection of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore Sub-Campus Jhang, Lahore 35200, PakistanInstitute of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Lahore 54000, PakistanDepartment of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, PakistanWildlife Epidemiology and Molecular Microbiology Laboratory (One Health Research Group), Discipline of Zoology, Department of Wildlife and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 35200, PakistanFriedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Naumburger Str. 96a, 07743 Jena, GermanyFriedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Naumburger Str. 96a, 07743 Jena, GermanyBrucellosis is one of the most notorious zoonoses worldwide. The disease is common and endemic in humans and animals of Pakistan, but lack of awareness and lack of research have resulted in an increased incidence in the human population. The present study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and at molecular detection of brucellosis in patients with clinical symptoms in six different hospitals from Lahore, which is the capital city of Punjab province. A total of 218 blood samples were collected from hospitalized patients. The samples were initially screened by the Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT), and then quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was applied. An overall seroprevalence of 17% (37/218) was found. The highest prevalence was found at the Lady Health center (36.53%), which was followed by the Lady Willingdon Hospital (28.6%). Female patients showed a higher seroprevalence than males and peaked at 34% (n = 32) for women who suffered from abortion. In total, 16.8% of patients younger than 30 years showed seropositive reactions, while the prevalence was 19% in patients between 31 and 50. Thirty-three DNA samples from 24 seropositive and nine seronegative patients tested positive, 32 samples were found positive for <i>B. abortus</i> DNA, and one sample failed to be identified at the species level. Almost all positive cases had direct contact with animals and consumed unpasteurized dairy products. Research on human brucellosis is still scarce in Pakistan. For the diagnosis of brucellosis, serology and molecular tools should be combined if isolation by culture is not possible. Nationwide control activities and increasing awareness for zoonotic brucellosis are needed.https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7449/13/1/18brucellosishospital patientsRBPTRT-PCRLahore |
| spellingShingle | Riffat Yousaf Iahtasham Khan Wasim Shehzad Riaz Hussain Shahzad Ali Heinrich Neubauer Gamal Wareth Seroprevalence and Molecular Detection of Brucellosis in Hospitalized Patients in Lahore Hospitals, Pakistan Infectious Disease Reports brucellosis hospital patients RBPT RT-PCR Lahore |
| title | Seroprevalence and Molecular Detection of Brucellosis in Hospitalized Patients in Lahore Hospitals, Pakistan |
| title_full | Seroprevalence and Molecular Detection of Brucellosis in Hospitalized Patients in Lahore Hospitals, Pakistan |
| title_fullStr | Seroprevalence and Molecular Detection of Brucellosis in Hospitalized Patients in Lahore Hospitals, Pakistan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seroprevalence and Molecular Detection of Brucellosis in Hospitalized Patients in Lahore Hospitals, Pakistan |
| title_short | Seroprevalence and Molecular Detection of Brucellosis in Hospitalized Patients in Lahore Hospitals, Pakistan |
| title_sort | seroprevalence and molecular detection of brucellosis in hospitalized patients in lahore hospitals pakistan |
| topic | brucellosis hospital patients RBPT RT-PCR Lahore |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7449/13/1/18 |
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