BRUCELLOSIS IN CAMELS

Sera from 480 camels of both sexes in the Sahel savannah of Nigeria we re tested for antibodies to brucellosis, using the microtitre serum ag glutination test with Brucella abortus antigen. The overall incidence of positive titres (titres greater than 1.1) was 7.5%. Brucella antibo dies were almost as frequent in males (7%) as females (8.3%). Camel me at and milk is increasingly important as a source of protein for the h uman population in the region. This study highlights the potential imp ortance of brucellosis for public health and measures are suggested fo r a national brucellosis control. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited.