ArticlePloS one2022
Brucellosis testing patterns at health facilities in Arusha region, northern Tanzania.
Article in PloS one, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 7 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 8 citations in OpenAlex.
- Enhancing risk communication for climate-sensitive neglected tropical diseases in Northern Tanzania: Integrating agropastoral community knowledge and health system strategies.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2026Article
- Correction: Brucellosis testing patterns at health facilities in Arusha region, northern Tanzania.PloS one · 2026Article
- Stratum-specific serum metabolic reprogramming in Saanen goats with graded Brucella serological reactivity under natural exposure.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2026Article
- Scent detection of Brucella abortus by African giant pouched rats (Cricetomys ansorgei).BMC veterinary research · 2023Article
- Brucellosis and One Health: Inherited and Future Challenges.Microorganisms · 2023Review
- Digital Technologies to Enhance Infectious Disease Surveillance in Tanzania: A Scoping Review.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Using One Health assessments to leverage endemic disease frameworks for emerging zoonotic disease threats in Libya.PLOS global public health · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
9 authors at 6 institutions in 4 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundBrucellosis is listed as one of six priority zoonoses in Tanzania's One Health strategic plan which highlights gaps in data needed for the surveillance and estimation of human brucellosis burdens. This study collected data on current testing practices and test results for human brucellosis in Arusha region, northern Tanzania.
methodsRetrospective data were extracted from records at 24 health facilities in Arusha region for the period January 2012 to May 2018. Data were captured on: the test reagents used for brucellosis, procurement and testing protocols, the monthly number of patients tested for brucellosis and the monthly number testing positive. Generalised linear mixed models were used to evaluate relationships between health facility characteristics and the probability that brucellosis testing was conducted in a given month, and the proportion of individuals testing positive.
resultsFour febrile Brucella agglutination tests were used widely. The probability of testing for brucellosis in a given month was significantly associated with an interaction between year of testing and facility ownership. Test probability increased over time with more pronounced increases in privately owned as compared to government facilities. The proportion of individuals testing positive for brucellosis was significantly associated with facility type and district, with individuals tested in hospitals in Meru, Monduli and Ngorongoro districts more likely to test positive.
conclusionsFebrile Brucella agglutination tests, known for their poor performance, were the mainstay of brucellosis testing at health facilities in northern Tanzania. The study indicates that historical data on human brucellosis in Arusha and other regions are likely to provide an inaccurate measure of true disease burden due to poor performance of the tests used and variation in testing practices. Measures to address these identified shortcomings could greatly improve quality of testing and surveillance data on brucellosis and ultimately inform prevention and control of this priority disease.
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