Nedjma Lounes
Higher National Veterinary School (ENSV), Algeria
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Infec Dis Treat
Brucellosis, caused by Brucella genus, affects wild and domestic animals causing abortion and reduced fertility. This disease is transmitted to human through ingestion of contaminated dairy products (raw milk and unpasteurized cheeses), as well as by direct contacts (cutaneous/ mucous and aerosol inhalation) with infected animals or biological materials (carcass, abortion products, clinical samples). Brucellosis is a major worldwide zoonosis. Despite eradication programs, the global burden of human brucellosis remains important. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the infection causes more than 500,000 infections per year worldwide. The disease remains endemic in many regions of the world, with predominance in the Mediterranean Basin, especially in Maghreb. In Algeria, brucellosis is rived since early nineteenth century. Up today, it's continued to spread in our herds, causing an enormous economics loses and number of human cases. In 1995, a national control program had been implemented, based on a sanitary prevention program and a screening of adult cattle and slaughter of infected animals. During the last two decades, an average infection rate of 1% in cattle and 5.38% in goats were declared by the veterinary authorities. The screening of bovine and caprine populations indicated that the disease is enzootic and widespread in all departments, with variable prevalence depending on the region. A new strategy based on the vaccination with the Rev-1 vaccine, was applied in the small ruminant populations, since 2006. Human brucellosis is ranked first in the declared zoonotic diseases in Algeria. The National Institute of Public Health declared an average of 5000 human cases per year during the last two decades. According to OIE data, Algeria has the tenth highest annual incidence worldwide. Published bacteriological investigations did characterize Brucella at the species and biovars levels in animals and human. More efforts should be taken by the concerning authorities in order to control the brucellosis in Algeria.
Nedjma Lounes has been serving as a Lecturer at Higher National Veterinary School (ENSV), since eleven years. She teaches microbiology, immunology and infectious diseases. She does research in microbiology and epidemiology of infectious diseases, especially about Brucellosis. She is the Author of 30 communications. Her most recent publication is 'Human Brucellosis in Maghreb: Existence of a Lineage Related to Socio-Historical Connections with Europe'.
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