Serum epidemiology of bovine brucellosis in the period from 2010 to 2012 in the municipality of Alegre / Espírito Santo

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the seroprevalence of brucellosis and associated risk factors in cattle in the municipality of Alegre, Espírito Santo, in the period 2010-2012. We analyzed 516 blood samples from cattle older than 24 months of 26 farms. The diagnosis was made by means of the indirect method of diagnosis and screening provided officially by the National Program for the Control and Eradication of Brucellosis and Tuberculosis ( PNCEBT ), Buffered Acidified Antigen ( AAT ). Of the 516 samples tested, 07 sera were reactive, with a total prevalence of 1.35 %, present in 23.1 % of the properties. Variables: veterinary medical care, buying and selling animals, vaccination against brucellosis; knowledge PNCEBT, and testing of animals for brucellosis, showed no significant difference ( p > 0.05 ) for the occurrence of brucellosis. In 42.3 % ( 11 ) of the properties was not made ​​vaccination against brucellosis, 84.6 % ( 22 ) did buying and selling animals, 57.7 % ( 15 ) not tested the animals for brucellosis, 53.9 % ( 14 ) responsible for the property were not aware of PNCEBT and only 38.5 % ( 11 ) had assistance from a veterinarian. These results demonstrate that infection by Brucella abortus is distributed in the dairy herd of the municipality of Alegre, Espírito Santo. Paying attention to the occupational nature of the disease, since people who deal with animals susceptible to the disease and / or infected, the risk of becoming infected is greater, direct contact with fetal membranes, fetal remains fluid and provides that this will spread zoonosis. It is essential that measures be adopted to ensure that landowners receive information on the disease and its economic implications, aiming at the implementation of a program to control the disease in the region.