CLEMENTINO, I. J.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/8769203111903730; CLEMENTINO, Inácio José.
Résumé:
A seroepidemiological survey was conducted to determine the prevalence and distribution of
the Brucella ovis infection in rams from the Paraíba state. The risk factors for the infection,
clinical evaluation of the scrotal structures and presence of the infection in the animal
expositions were also verified. The study was divided in two steps. In step I, 498 serum
samples of rams eight months age or greater from 283 ovine herds distributed in the Sertão
Paraibano and Borborema mesorregions were investigated; in step II, serum samples were
collected from 128 rams in seven expositions realized in Paraíba state. All sera were
examined by AGID test (screening test) e CFT (confirmatory test). From the total of
examined herds, 8.59% (95% CI = 5.83-12.48%) were seropositive to Brucella ovis. The
prevalence of seropositive rams was 5.57% (95% CI = 3.86-7.97%). There was no association
between the occurrence of reproductive problems (abortion, stillbirths, death in the first week
of life and homosexual behavior) and the seropositivity to B. ovis (p > 0.05). The
seropositivity was lower in herds where cleanliness was made frequently (p < 0.05). There
was association between the seropositivity and the presence of testicular changes (p = 0,026).
In the expositions, 3.91% of the serum samples were positive.
