Suchergebnisse

Rural settlements are defined as family-run agrarian spaces. Their purpose, based on public policies, is to strengthen family agriculture. They are peculiar environments that can predispose to the risk of diseases, especially zoonotic diseases, due to close natural contact with animals that can be sources of infection. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of anti-Leptospira antibodies in dogs from rural settlements in the state of Paraíba, Northeast Brazil, and to identify the risk factors associated with infection. A total of 306 dogs were sampled and Leptospira screening was performed using the microscopic agglutination test. In all, 27 of 306 (8.82%; 95% CI = 6.13-12.5%) dogs were seropositive for Leptospira spp. The most frequent serotype was Pomona. Street access (odds ratio = 3.53, p = 0.012) was indicated as a risk factor for infection. The results indicate that leptospirosis is present in dogs from rural settlements in the state of Paraíba, Northeast Brazil. This reinforces the need to limit contact between dogs and wild reservoirs and perform serological monitoring of swine. It also reinforces the need for implementation of control measures such as improvements in hygienic-sanitary conditions in the settlements, including the construction of pigsties away from homes, and the introduction of vaccination to reduce the occurrence of this disease, which will prevent transmission to humans and animals.

The transit of infected animals may be a route for the introduction and dispersal of diseases, which necessitates protocols for the controlled entry of infected animals into herds. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of anti-Leptospira and anti-Brucella ovis antibodies in small ruminants sold at an animal fair in the Sertão region of the Pernambuco State, Northeastern Brazil, and to identify the possible risk factors associated with seropositivity. Serum samples were collected from 233 goats and 119 sheep, belonging to twelve different owners from November 2014 to June 2015. Diagnosis of Leptospira spp. infection was established using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT); for B. ovis infection, the agar gel immuno-diffusion (AGID) test was conducted. A total of 16/233 (6.87%; 95% CI = 4.27% – 10.83%) goats and 16/119 (13.45%; 95% CI = 8.67% – 21.24%) sheep were identified as seropositive for Leptospira spp. The most frequent serotype was Icterohaemorrhagiae. In goats, intensive management system (odds ratio = 15.8; p < 0.001) and consorted rearing of equines and goats (odds ratio = 7.3; p = 0.005) were identified as risk factors. There were no risk factors identified for sheep. Seven (5.88%; 95% CI = 2.88% – 11.65%) sheep were seropositive for B. ovis, and the intensive management system was identified as the risk factor (odds ratio = 11.5; p = 0.005). This suggests that Leptospira spp. and B. ovis infections occur in small ruminants commercialized in the Sertão region of the Pernambuco State. Thus, improvements to the sanitary conditions of the facilities and the control of synanthropic rodents are recommended.

Brazil is the eighth largest exporter of equidae meat in the world. Most donkey meat is obtained from discarded animals, raising concerns about their health status, particularly regarding zoonotic infections such as leptospirosis. Thus, this study aimed to determine the frequency of anti-Leptospira sp. antibodies in Northeastern donkeys at two properties specializing in producing donkeys for slaughter and export to the Chinese market, in the municipalities of Parnamirim (A) and Araripina (B), both located in the mesoregion of the Sertão of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil. The serum of 349 donkeys was collected, including 147 males and 202 females, aged 3 to 12 years. All animals were subjected to the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) using a cut-off point of 1:50. A total of 19.8% seropositive animals were obtained. The Icterohaemorrhagiae serogroup was the most found in this study (40.6%), followed by Australis (27.5%), Autumnalis (8.7%), Sejroe (8.7%), Pomona (8.7%), Celledoni (2.9%), and Tarassovi (2.9%). A higher overall rate of seropositivity was found in donkeys from property B (2.2.4%) in the municipality of Araripina. In the association analysis, it was observed that animals less than 9 years of age were more likely to be seropositive, this may be due to the acquisition of resistance to Leptospira sp. as age advances. A significant number of donkeys seropositive for Leptospira sp. was found, thus, breeding these animals for slaughter and export requires implementing prophylactic measures.

In the Northeast of Brazil, goat breeding plays an important socioeconomic and strategic role in coexistence within the semi-arid region. The rural nature of the species and adaptations that are appropriate for the climate are some of the characteristics that favor the Northeast as the largest national producer of goats (93% of the national herd). In spite of this, sanitary deficiencies facilitate the appearance and diffusion of pathogenic agents that compromise the productivity, e.g., Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, which are widespread in the national herd and cause damages in the industry. The objective of this study was to characterize caseous lymphadenitis (CL) in lamb cuttings at semi-arid abattoirs. The research was carried out between March and August 2017 at the Municipal Abattoir of Patos, State of Paraíba, Brazil, where the caprines from this region are slaughtered. We studied 304 animals with no defined racial pattern, of both the sexes, characterized according to their age group as evidenced by their teeth, submitted to ante- and post-mortem examinations with microbiological confirmation. Cheek material was processed for diagnostic confirmation, using the techniques of isolation and microbiological identification (gold standard). The bacteriological examination confirmed the presence of the agent in 21.38% of the animals, in which 13.16% were females and 8.22% were males. Of those affected, 11.51% had the clinical form of the disease, while 9.87% had the subclinical form and 1.31% had both the clinical form as well as the internal impairment. The precrural (25.71%), mammary (11.43%), and prescapular (11.43%) lymph nodes were the most affected. Internally, the most affected were the liver (63.33%), lung (13.33%), and medium mediastinal lymph nodes (10%). The presence of skin lesion/scars (Odds ratio = 2.394, 95% CI = 1.371 - 4.182, p = 0.003) and sex (females) (Odds ratio = 1.845, 95% CI = 1.053 - 3.232, p = 0.044) were found to be risk factors. CL is present in goats from the intermediate geographical region of Patos, reinforcing the need for control measures, with attention to the inspection of animals in the slaughter line.