Brucelose por Brucella ovis em ovinos deslanados do Semi-árido da Paraíba. Inquérito soroepidemiológico e fatores de risco associados à infecção.

Abstract

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.