Animal agglomerations at commercial events such as trade fairs represent an important facilitator in infectious disease transmission. Thus, it is crucial to understand the epidemiology of infectious diseases in small ruminants. The objective of this study was to examine lentiviral presence in goats and sheep traded at the animal fair of Tabira city (Sertão region of Pernambuco) and identify possible risk factors associated with infection. We collected serum samples from 233 crossbred goats and 119 crossbred sheep, belonging to 12 breeders, at the Tabira livestock fair from November 2014 to June 2015. An epidemiological questionnaire was used to analyze the risk factors. Agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) and western blotting (WB) were performed to diagnose small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) infection. In the AGID test, we used maedi-visna virus (MVV) antigens for sheep and caprine arthritis/encephalitis virus (strain Cork) (CAEV-Co) antigen for goats. The WB analysis used CAEV-Co antigen for both species. Variables from the questionnaire were analyzed with univariate and multivariate statistics. One seropositive goat but no sheep was identified via AGID. According to the WB results, 15/233 goats (6.44%; CI95% = 3.94 -10.35%) and 8/119 sheep (6.72%; CI95% = 3.45 -12.71%) were seropositive, totaling 23/352 reactive animals (6.53%; CI95% = 4.39 -9.61%) from 12 herds. Annual vermifugation of the animals was a significant risk factor (odds ratio = 5.9; CI95% = 1.7-19.8; p = 0.04) for disease in goats, but no variables associated with infection risks were identified in sheep. We concluded that SRLV was present in goats and sheep at the animal fair. Western blots were more sensitive than AGID for SRLV diagnosis. Practices aiming to improve sanitary management may reduce the risk of infection in goats. All studied herds included animals identified as seropositive for SRLV. Therefore, we recommend adopting measures that increase disease diagnosis while intensifying traffic control and surveillance of animal agglomerations.

Goat farming in the northeastern regions of Brazil plays an important role in the socio-economic functions of the country. However, high rates of morbidity and mortality occur in the animals, caused primarily by infectious diseases like caseous lymphadenitis, which is widespread in goat herds; this causes serious economic losses to the farming business. Although events such as animal fairs are common in the region, wherein most of the goats and sheep are sold, the risk of disease transmission remains, since the health condition of the animal is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of anti-Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis antibodies present in the goats sold at the animal fair of Tabira -PE, Northeastern semi-arid. Serum samples from 233 goats were collected from the period of November 2014 to June 2015. The diagnosis of infection by C. pseudotuberculosis was made using the indirect ELISA technique. The number of goats seropositive for C. pseudotuberculosis was identified as 87 (37.34%; 95% CI = 31.38 -43.71%). Of the nine flocks evaluated, five (55.55%) were positive. Thus, it is suggested that infection by C. pseudotuberculosis is widespread in the goats sold at the animal fairs in the semi-arid Northeastern, reinforcing the need for disease diagnosis in goat herds in the region for the possible implementation of disease control programs. Key words: Agglomerations. Caseous lymphadenitis. Goats. Serology. ResumoA caprinocultura se destaca na região Nordeste do Brasil por desempenhar importante função socioeconômica. Contudo altas taxas de morbidade e mortalidade ocorrem nas propriedades causadas principalmente por doenças infecciosas, destacando-se a linfadenite caseosa, que se encontra amplamente difundida nos rebanhos caprinos, acarretando sérios prejuízos econômicos à atividade. Eventos do tipo

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. ResumoO trânsito de animais infectados pode ser uma forma de introdução e dispersão de enfermidades, de maneira que o bloqueio da entrada de animais infectados nos rebanhos é uma importante ferramenta de controle. O objetivo desse estudo foi determinar a frequência de anticorpos anti-Leptospira spp. e antiBrucella ovis em pequenos ruminantes comercializados em feira de animais no Sertão de Pernambuco, Nordeste do Brasil, e identificar os possíveis fatores de risco associados às soropositividades. Foram coletadas amostras de soro de 233 caprinos e 119 ovinos, pertencentes a doze proprietários diferentes, no período de novembro de 2014 a junho de 2015. O diagnóstico da infecção por Leptospira spp. foi realizado pela técnica de soroaglutinação microscópica (SAM), e para B. ovis o teste de imunodifusão em gel de ágar (IDGA) foi aplicado. Foram identificados 16 (6,87%; IC 95% = 4,27% -10,83%) caprinos e 16 (13,45%; IC 95% = 8,67% -21,24%) ovinos soropositivos para Leptospira spp. O sorotipo mais frequente foi o Icterohaemorrhagiae. Em caprinos, a criação de forma intensiva (odds ratio = 15,8; p < 0,001) e criar equinos consorciados com caprinos (odds ratio = 7,3; p = 0,005) foram identificados como fatores de risco. Não foi identificado fator de risco associado à infecção em ovinos. Sete (5,88%; IC 95% = 2,88% -11,65%) ovinos foram soropositivos para B. ovis, e a criação inte...

No Nordeste do Brasil, muitos produtores utilizam a venda de animais vivos em feiras livres como principal via de comercialização de seus animais. Embora contribuam para o desenvolvimento econômico e social, essas feiras tornam-se facilitadoras no processo de transmissão e disseminação de doenças parasitárias. Nesse sentido, o objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar a ocorrência de parasitismo gastrintestinal em caprinos e ovinos comercializados na feira de animais de Tabira, estado de Pernambuco. Foram coletadas fezes e sangue de 84 caprinos e 92 ovinos, entre novembro de 2014 e janeiro de 2015. Os caprinos apresentaram frequência de 70,24% e os ovinos 78,26% de animais positivos na contagem de ovos por grama de fezes (OPG). As fêmeas caprinas (75,44%) e os machos ovinos (82,93%) adultos foram mais acometidos. Os caprinos apresentaram maior média de OPG (2.431), maior proporção de anemia (40,68%) e maiores níveis de infecção pesada (11,87%) e fatal (20,34%) em comparação aos ovinos (1203; 20,86%; 9,72% e 15,28%, respectivamente). Na coprocultura, larvas de Haemonchus sp. foram as mais frequentes, tanto em caprinos (90,34%), quanto em ovinos (91,87%). Os caprinos e ovinos comercializados na feira de animais de Tabira, estado de Pernambuco, são acometidos por grandes cargas parasitárias, sugerindo maiores cuidados dos proprietários quando da aquisição de animais nesses recintos, a fim de evitar maiores prejuízos.