Evaluation of Knowledge and Practices of Individuals Living with Livestock on Brucellosis: A Study from Eastern Anatolia Region, Turkey

Brucellosis is one of the most important zoonoses, which can be seen at higher risk, especially in livestock. This study aimed to evaluate the demographic characteristics and practices of people occupied in livestock on brucellosis. This cross-sectional survey was conducted between February 2023 and May 2023. The participants were asked questions about their socio-demographic information, level of knowledge about brucellosis, and basic practices during livestock. The mean age of the 204 participants included in the study was 41.53±15.66 years, and 64.7% (n=132) were male. Most participants were shepherds (45.1%). While all participants stated that they had heard of brucellosis and that the disease was transmitted from animals to humans, 12 (5.9%) stated that they had brucellosis before. No participants had received training on brucellosis. While all participants thought that brucellosis could be transmitted by consuming milk directly without boiling it, 98% thought that brucellosis could be transmitted from cheese made without boiling milk, and 96.6% from butter. The proportion of those who thought that the disease could be transmitted by touching abortion material or sick animals with bare hands was low (7.8% and 3.9%, respectively). The fact that the participants had some incorrect information and approaches about foodborne  transmission, that they had not received any training on zoonotic infections, that they did not comply with the hygiene rules in contact with waste material, and that wrong practices in the case of new animal participation in the herd reveals that more information and action is needed for the eradication of brucellosis.