Brucellosis in Small Ruminants

Small ruminants (goat and sheep) are economically important and promising animal resource in Bangladesh. One of the infectious diseases, which are a major constraint for small ruminants productivity is brucellosis, a zoonosis of worldwide importance. It is caused by gram-negative, coccobacillae, facultative intracellular bacteria belonging to the genus Brucella. At least 10 species are comprising the genus Brucella among which the natural reservoirs of the species B. melitensis are basically goats and sheep but also cattle and swine. However, B. ovis primarily afflict sheep, causing orchitis and epididymitis in ram but it is not recognized as a cause of natural infection in goats. Brucellosis has a considerable impact on human and animal health as well as a socioeconomic impact and especially in rural areas that largely rely on livestock and in developing countries still considered as the most serious and devastating zoonotic disease. This book illustrates the new way of diagnosing and controlling brucellosis in small ruminants for development of small ruminants industry as well as to improve livelihoods.