[Clinical and epidemiological aspects of bovine brucellosis in tropical Africa]

Bovine brucellosis, in the tropical regions of Africa, is very different, both clinically and epidermiologically, from that observed in temperate zones. From the clinical point of view, abortion is rare and extra-genital lesions (hygromas and abscesses) are frequent. From the epidemiological point of view, the rate of infection is low and the disease has very little tendency to spread. The reason for these differences may be explained by climatic conditions (temperature, insolation, humidity) as well as by breeding conditions (principally nomadic or transhumant breeding). Where climatic and breeding conditions resemble those of intensive breeding in temperate zones the clinical and epidemiological aspects tend towards similarity with the usual form of bovine brucellosis.