Camel milk is a neglected source of brucellosis among rural Arab communities

Peter Holloway (), Matthew Gibson, Tanja Holloway, Iain Pickett, Brittany Crook, Jacqueline M. Cardwell, Stephen Nash, Imadidden Musallam, Bilal Al-Omari, Ahmad Al-Majali, Wail Hayajneh, Ehab Abu-Basha, Punam Mangtani and Javier Guitian
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Peter Holloway: The Royal Veterinary College
Matthew Gibson: The Royal Veterinary College
Tanja Holloway: London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Iain Pickett: The Royal Veterinary College
Brittany Crook: The Royal Veterinary College
Jacqueline M. Cardwell: The Royal Veterinary College
Stephen Nash: Karolinska Institutet
Imadidden Musallam: The Royal Veterinary College
Bilal Al-Omari: Jordan University of Science and Technology
Ahmad Al-Majali: Jordan University of Science and Technology
Wail Hayajneh: Saint Louis University
Ehab Abu-Basha: Jordan University of Science and Technology
Punam Mangtani: London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Javier Guitian: The Royal Veterinary College

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract The World Health Organization describes brucellosis as one of the world’s leading zoonotic diseases, with the Middle East a global hotspot. Brucella melitensis is endemic among livestock populations in the region, with zoonotic transmission occurring via consumption of raw milk, amongst other routes. Control is largely via vaccination of small ruminant and cattle populations. Due to sociocultural and religious influences camel milk (camelus dromedarius) is widely consumed raw, while milk from other livestock species is largely boiled. To investigate the potential public health impact of Brucella in camels we conduct a cross-sectional study in southern Jordan including 227 herds and 202 livestock-owning households. Here we show daily consumption of raw camel milk is associated with Brucella seropositive status among the study population, ORadj 2.19 (95%CI 1.23–3.94) on multivariable analysis, highlighting the need for socioculturally appropriate control measures; targeted interventions among the camel reservoir being crucial for effective control.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-55737-2

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