[Human brucellosis in Mali. Results of a seroepidemiological study]

Prevalence of human brucellosis was evaluated in three contrasted ecoclimatic zones with different peopling of Mali. Rose bengal plate agglutination tests were carried out on capillary blood microsamples taken from 2173 subjects and indirect immunofluorescence tests were performed on 148 blood samples collected on filter paper disks. These seroepidemiological studies demonstrate the presence of the anthropozoonosis in the entire country and the influence of ecoclimatic and demographic factors on human brucellosis distribution in Mali. The high prevalence (24.4%) found in the sahelian region of Gourma shows the necessity of a national control programme. A similar prevalence has been found in other countries of tropical Africa which were formerly considered as almost free of human brucellosis. The findings suggest that seroimmunological tests should be performed systematically to detect brucellosis in immigrants coming to Europe from tropical Africa as well as in Europeans who have been travelling or staying in this region.