Avaliação epidemiológica de agentes infecciosos da esfera reprodutiva em ovinos no Semiárido Brasileiro.

Abstract

The aims of this investigation were to determine the flock-level and animal-level prevalences of Chlamydophila abortus in sheep from the semiarid region of Northeastern Brazil, to identify risk factors and to identify sheep flocks with history of reproductive failures (abortions and perinatal mortality) associated to presence of C. abortus, Brucella ovis and Leptospira spp. Blood samples were collected from 476 sheep from 72 flocks in 14 counties in the Sertão mesoregion, state of Paraíba. For the serological diagnosis of C. abortus, B. ovis and Leptospira spp. infections the complement fixation test, agar gel immunodiffusion test (AGID) and microscopic agglutination test (MAT) were used, respectively. A flock was positive when presented at least one seropositive animal. Of the 72 flocks used 38 (52.8%) presented at least one animal seropositive to C. abortus, and of the 476 animals 94 (19.7%) were seropositive. Participation in animal expositions (odds ratio= 4.31; 95% CI= 1.80-10.35; p=0.011) was identified as risk factor. Flock-level prevalences of B. ovis and Leptospira spp. were 33.3% 27.7%, respectively. Flocks with history of abortion (31.9%; 23/72) and perinatal mortality (54.2%; 39/72) had at least one sheep seropositive to one of the infectious agentes. For abortions, flock-level prevalence of C. abortus was 60.8%, followed by B. ovis (43.4%) and Leptospira spp. (30.4%). For perinatal mortality, flock-level prevalence was 64.1% for C. abortus, 38.4% for B. ovis and 33.3% for Leptospira spp. It is suggested that these agentes may be importante causes of reproductive failures in the semiarid region, and it is recommended to teach sanitary measures to the flock owners in order to encourage them to adopt prevention measures as well as to perform the direct diagnosis in cases of abortion and perinatal mortality.