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ISDS 2016 Conference Abstracts

Detection of brucellosis through active surveillance, 
Armenia, 2014
Liana Torosyan*, Lilit Avetisyan and Artavazd Vanyan
National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ministry of Health, Republic of Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia

Objective
In the spring of 2014, people from vulnerable households in all 

marzes of Armenia were examined with the aim of active surveillance.

Introduction
Brucellosis is a serious disease caused by bacteria of the Brucella 

genus. It principally affects ruminants but may be transmitted to 
humans. Registration of cases in cattle farms causes considerable 
economic losses and creates favorable conditions for mass infection 
among humans. In Armenia the expansion of animal industries and 
urbanization are the main reasons for occurrence and development 
of brucellosis.

Methods
Blood was sampled from people on farms reported as having 

infected animals. Blood samples were tested by the Wright-
Huddleston method. The standard case definition of brucellosis was 
used for diagnosis. A questionnaire-based interview was carried out 
among the population to identify the form of contact with animals and 
to analyze epidemiological links. During the investigation provisions 
were followed in governmental decree RA 19.01.2006 N480-N 
and brucellosis prevention, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, 
preventive measures.

Results
A total of 11160 people from 1054 households were enrolled in the 

study, of which 3625 (32.5%) underwent a laboratory examination. 
Nearly 6% (641) refused to be tested. Over 6% of those tested (226) 
were positive for antibodies to Brucellae. Of these, 129 (3.5%) had 
chronic brucellosis. Those testing positive for brucellosis were treated 
appropriately. These included 203 (90%) adults and 23 (10%) below 
14 years old; 147 (65%) were male and 79 (35%) were female.  
Of those diagnosed with brucellosis, working in animal husbandry 
accounted for 46.6% (106), while those who harvested milk accounted 
for 37.6% (85) and those using raw milk made up 15.4% (35).

Conclusions
Cases were most frequently reported among people 20-55 years of 

age; the highest percentage of positives were among 41-45 year old 
males who had contact with infected animals. The main risk factor for 
acquiring brucellosis is animal husbandry.

Keywords
brucellosis; surveillance; Armenia

*Liana Torosyan
E-mail: Liana_torosyan@mail.ru

Online Journal of Public Health Informatics * ISSN 1947-2579 * http://ojphi.org * 9(1):e175, 2017