Introduction There is an increasing report from swine farmers in Nigeria, of losses due to abortion and infertility among their herds (Onunkwo et al., 2011). Brucel- losis is a major cause of abortion and infertility among pigs and an emerging zoonosis worldwide (Corbel, 1997; Mantur and Amarnath, 2008; Se- leem et al., 2010; Munoz et al., 2012). Swine bru- cellosis is characterized by abortion, orchitis, still birth, birth of weak piglets, epididymitis, hygroma, infertility, spondylitis of especially the lumbar and sacral regions, with occasional paralysis of the hind limbs and rarely arthritis in swine (Megid et al., 2010; Onunkwo et al., 2011; Praud et al., 2012). Transmission of Brucella in swine occurs via con- sumption of birth/or abortion products, uterine dis- charges or feed contaminated by such products (Kebede et al., 2008). Coital transmission has also been reported (European Food Safety Authority, 2009). Majority of infected pigs were reported to recover within six months but many remain perma- nently infected (OIE, 2009). Although, none of the serological tests has been shown to be reliable in routine brucellosis diagnosis in individual pigs, the Rose Bengal Plate test (RBPT), complement fixa- tion test (CFT) and fluorescence polarisation assay (FPA) are the prescribed tests for international trade purposes (OIE, 2009). Despite the control and pre- ventive measures instituted against the disease, it has continued to persist with increasing cases of outbreak (World Health Organization, 2005). Benue State also accounts for a large portion (20%) of the total pig population in Nigeria (Resource In- ventory and Management Report, 1993). The pres- ent study was designed to determine the status of brucellosis among pigs slaughtered in Makurdi (Wurukum) abattoir, Benue State North central Nigeria. *Corresponding author: Emmanuel Ochefije Ngbede E-mail address: drngbede@hotmail.com Journal of Advanced Veterinary Research Volume 3 (2013) 57-59 An Abattoir-Based Study on Serodiagnosis of Swine Brucellosis in Makurdi, Benue State, North-Central Nigeria Emmanuel Ochefije Ngbede 1* , Asabe Halimat Momoh 2 , Ruben Sylvester Bala 1 , Blessed Dauda Madaki 2 , Nanven Abraham Maurice 3 1 Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria. 2 Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello Uni- versity Zaria, Nigeria. 3 National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria. Abstract An abattoir serological survey of brucellosis in pigs was conducted in Makurdi, Benue State North Central Nigeria between October and November 2011. Blood-sera were collected from a total of 281 slaughtered pigs and their ages and sex were recorded. The sera were tested for brucellosis using the Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT). A total of 86 of the 281 (30.60%) pigs were serologically positive. The prevalence of positive pigs based on sex was 31.20% and 30.13% for male and female pigs, respectively. The age prevalence was 30.10% and 32.00% for young and adult pigs, respectively. There was no statis- tically significant association (p>0.05) between positivity of reactor pigs and their sex or age. This study concluded that bru- cellosis is a problem in the swine industry. Consequently, strict sanitary measures and control of swine brucellosis is urgently warranted to avoid spread of infection through pigs’ populations and their contacted persons as well as pork consumers. Keywords: Brucellosis; swine; abattoir; Rose Bengal Plate Test; Benue State; Nigeria Original Research ISSN: 2090-6277/2090-6269, www.advetresearch.com Accepted 03 March 2013