Evaluation of Seropositive Brucellosis Cases in Nevşehir, Türkiye: An 11-Year Analysis
Abstract
Epidemiological and clinical analyses of brucellosis are vital for strengthening disease surveillance and case management strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiological characteristics of human brucellosis by seasonal distribution and year, and to determine brucellosis seropositivity in the region. A retrospective analysis was conducted of 4,510 suspected cases presented to Nevşehir State Hospital between 2013 and 2023.The Rose Bengal test (RBT) was used for screening, and RBT-positive sera were evaluated with a standard tube agglutination test. Titers ≥1/160 were considered diagnostic. Of the 4510 patients, 405 (8.98%) were RBT positive, and 143 (35.3%) were confirmed with STA titers ≥1/160, for an overall seropositivity rate of 3.18% (95% CI: 2.7-3.7). The majority were male (72.7%), and the mean age was 35.4 years. Most cases were linked to animal contact, with the incidence peaking in the summer months. A sharp increase was observed in 2022. Our findings demonstrate the prevalence of human brucellosis among patients with a pre-diagnosis of brucellosis in Nevşehir, influenced by occupational and seasonal factors. Strengthening animal vaccination, public awareness, and diagnostic capacity are essential to reduce the disease burden and improve surveillance. This study provides important regional data to guide control strategies.
Keywords
Brucellosis, Epidemiology, Laboratory diagnosis, Zoonosis
Ethical Statement
The study protocol was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and the research was approved by the Kapadokya University Research Ethics Committee (approval date: October 16, 2024; approval code: G.O. 24/2024).
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