Seroprevalence of brucellosis in livestock in Iran: a meta-analysis

The main target of the current investigation was to estimate the overall seroprevalence rate of brucellosis in Iranian livestock (sheep, goats, and cattle) using a meta-analysis of available documents. In this review, different electronic databases were searched for the relevant studies published until January 2022, about the seroprevalence of brucellosis in animals in Iran. A chi-squared test and also a random effect model (REM) were used to determine the heterogeneity of studies and to estimate the pooled seroprevalence among subgroups, respectively. The overall seroprevalence of brucellosis was 3%, 4%, and 5% in cattle, sheep, and goats, respectively (Pooled seroprevalence = 3%). The highest pooled seroprevalence was reported 75% in West Azerbaijan, northwest of Iran, while the lowest rate was 1% in Charmahal and Bakhtiyari and Khuzestan, southwest regions of Iran. This was a review study on brucellosis in animals in Iran. There was no comprehensive data on animal brucellosis from some locations in Iran; which was the main limitation of our work. Further studies of the brucellosis seroprevalence rate in animals, especially in endemic regions of Iran, as well as associated risk factors, are highly recommended. This is essential for developing a launch control strategy for eliminating the disease. Also, healthy measures such as increasing livestock vaccination and farmers’ education must be improved in the areas with higher seroprevalence rates.