Incidence of brucellosis in domestic livestock in Saudi Arabia.

The results of an extensive serological survey for brucellosis antibodies using the standard plate agglutination procedure on 14,000 serum samples from native domestic animals and imported livestock over a five year period are reported. The incidence of brucellosis was highest (11.6%) in small ruminants reared intensively in breeding establishments, next highest (2.6%) in imported animals sacrificed during the Hajj season of 1977 and somewhat lower (1.5%) in local livestock sacrificed during the same Hajj season. The incidence was very low among the following groups of livestock: small ruminants raised on desert ranges (0.5%), small ruminants raised in small groups around individual homes (0.4%) and in commercial dairy herds (0.2%).