Ruminant and human brucellosis situation in Türkiye and the Caucasus

Brucellosis, a disease caused by Brucella spp., is one of the most prevalent zoonoses in the world and remains endemic in the Mediterranean Basin, the Near East, South America, and parts of Africa. Given the negative impact it has on public and animal health, food safety and livelihoods, sustained campaigns for its control and eradication are crucial. This study aimed to provide a better understanding of brucellosis status in domestic ruminants in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye by looking into the spatial and temporal distribution of the disease in terms of the standardized morbidity ratio/standardized incidence ratio (SMR/SIR), as well as the distribution in humans (SIR). The results of this study highlight areas of higher risk of disease in ruminants, especially near border areas between endemic countries, and the uneven distribution of human cases. Factors that hamper the control of brucellosis in Türkiye and the Caucasus include a lack of sustained funding and adequate animal identification and traceability systems (NAITSs) to identify animals for disease management interventions (i.e., vaccination, test-and-slaughter) and allow for the effective control of animal movement and trade within the countries.