Caracterização epidemiológica da Leptospirose em caprinos leiteiros no Semiárido da Paraíba, Brasil.

Abstract

Leptospirosis in small ruminants is a disease that can causes economic losses due to occurrence of abortions, stillbirths and decreased milk production. This work aimed to determine the prevalence of positive dairy goat herds and seropositive animals for leptospirosis in semiarid region of Paraíba State. Sampling was designed to determine the prevalence of positive herds (foci) and seropositive animals for leptospirosis. A total of 975 serum samples were collected from goats from 110 dairy herds in the Monteiro, Cariri Ocidental microregion of the Paraiba State. For the serological diagnosis of leptospirosis the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was carried out usind 24 Leptospiraspp. serovars as antigens. A herd was considered positive when presented at least one seropositive animal. The prevalence of positive herds and seropositive animals were 43.6% (95% CI = 34.2% - 53.4%) and 8.7% (95% CI = 58.7% - 12.9%), respectively. The most frequent serovars in animals were Autumnalis (1.74%; 95% CI = 0.97% – 3.09%), Sentot (1.71%; 95% CI = 0.82% - 3.52%) and Whitcomb (1.39%; 95% CI = 0.65% – 2.93%), and by herd, serovars Autumnalis (10.9%; 95% CI = 5.8% – 18.3%), Whitcomb (8.2%; 95% CI = 3.8% – 15.0%) and Sentot and Patoc (7.3%; 95% CI = 3.2% – 13.8%) were the most frequent. Presence of rodents (OR = 2.78; P = 0.015) was identified as a risk factor. There was also association between history of infertility (OR = 14.74; P = 0.015) and prevalence of positive flocks. It is suggested that leptospirosis is spread in goats in the region, and that a program of rodent control should be included in the flock management practices aiming to reduce transmission of the agent and then to reduce prevalence of positive flocks and occurrence of reproductive disorders such as impaired fertility.