Seroprevalence of Brucellosis in Albania, 2004-2012

Brucellosis is a zoonosis, and the infection is almost invariably transmitted by direct or indirect contact with infected animals or their products. This is a crossectional seroprevalence study including specimens referred to the Institute of Public health in Tirana, Albania from patients suspected for Brucellosis over the period 2004-2012.4020 patients were included in the study. The mean age of patients was 40.2 (12.4) years with a range 1-84 years.71.5 % of study participants were males and 28.5 % females.43.5 % of the me were farmers. The seroprevalence of Brucella spp. among participants was 19 % (95 % CI 17.820.2). Seroprevalence was higher in females than in males (11.2 % compared with 10.9 %, P = 0.029). By age group, the highest seroprevalence was found in those 15-24 years at 26.9 % (95 % CI 13.917.0), with the lowest in the 1-4 year age group at 4.5 % (95 % CI 1.520.4).