Estudo epidemiológico de doenças infecciosas e parasitárias da esfera reprodutiva em búfalos (Bubalus bubalis) na Paraíba.

Abstract

The aim of this work was to determine the frequency of antibodies and the risk factors for brucellosis, leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis and neosporosis in buffaloes of Paraíba State. One hundred thirty-six buffaloes from 14 herds were used. For the diagnosis of brucellosis the Buffered Acidified Plate Antigen (BAPA) test was applied as screening test and the 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) test as confirmatory test. For leptospirosis the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was performed with the dilution 1:100 as cutoff-point. For the detection of anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum antibodies the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was used. The frequency of seropositive animals for leptospirosis, brucellosis, toxoplasmosis and neosporosis were 27.9%, 1.5%, 12.5% and 19.1%, respectively, while the frequencies of positive properties were 64.3%, 14.3%, 71.4% and 71.4%, respectively. There were no risk factors for leptospirosis and brucellosis, however, semi-intensive farming (odds ratio = 2.99, 95% CI = 0.99 to 8.98) and presence of pigs (odds ratio = 4.33; 95% CI = 1.34 to 13.98) were identified as risk factors for toxoplasmosis and neosporosis, respectively. Since brucellosis is subject to official control in cattle in Brazil, the presence of positive buffaloes indicates the possibility of negative impact on efforts to control the disease in cattle, and thus it is recommended that more attention be given to these animals in the control of brucellosis. Related to leptospirosis, it is suggested that the raising with horses and pigs may be an important factor in the occurrence of positive animals. Based on the analysis of risk factors it is suggest the need for further works on the importance of T. gondii and N. caninum in water buffaloes and pigs as well as the influence of the type of farming in the occurrence of seropositive animals.