Brucella spp. is the aetiological agent of brucellosis, a serious contagious disease that results in reproductive failure and that has profound public health significance because of its zoonotic characteristics. This disease also is responsible for a high economic impact associated with the application of prevention, surveillance and test-andslaughter programmes in animals by national authorities. Brucella spp. infects a large variety of animals and their prevalence is variable worldwide, mainly associated with the presence or absence of control programmes and also with the vaccination of animals against brucellosis. To achieve the control and eradication of brucellosis, the identification of the risk factors of brucellosis that maintain the infection in animals and/or the environment is fundamental. Although several risks have been identified, the most important have been associated with the biology of the bacteria, animal management age, sex, species or breed , herd management herd/flock size, number of species, contact with wild animals or type of animal production , farm management facilities, cleaning and disinfection or veterinary support and farmers' knowledge about the disease. Thus, to benefit from proper risk identification of brucellosis, it is essential to put a cost-effective and efficient brucellosis control programme into place.Keywords: Brucellosis, risk factors, animals, prevalence . IntroductionBrucellosis is a serious contagious disease that results in reproductive failure and has profound public health significance because of its zoonotic characteristics [ ]. In animals, brucellosis can be considered as one of the most economically important zoonosis worldwide, resulting in clinical disease, abortion, neonatal losses, increased calving intervals, reduced fertility, decreased milk production, increased culling rates because of metritis and the emergency slaughtering of infected animals and also an impediment to free animal movement and trade [ -]. However, a high economic impact is associated with the human disease and also by the application of prevention, surveillance and test-and-slaughter programmes in animals by national authorities [ , ].Brucella spp. infects a large variety of animals as described in

RESUMENDurante los meses de abril a julio de 2012, se entrevistaron a 154 ganaderos del norte de Portugal con el objetivo de evaluar su conocimiento sobre la tuberculosis bovina (TBb). De acuerdo con los resultados, 14.3 % de los ganaderos declararon haber tenido, al menos una vez, el hato infectado con TBb. Además, estos mostraron que los ganaderos poseen un buen conocimiento de la enfermedad a pesar de la elevada edad y de la baja escolaridad/formación. Sin embargo, los resultados mostraron que el 27.9 % de los ganaderos desconoce las pérdidas económicas asociadas a las restricciones comerciales causadas por la TBb. El 25 % desconoce que la transmisión principal de la TBb es por vía aerógena, de la misma forma que el 46.7 % también desconoce que la fauna salvaje puede actuar como reservorio de la enfermedad. El grado de conocimiento de los ganaderos sobre la TBb puede ser de gran importancia para aumentar la eficacia del programa nacional de erradicación de la TBb. Los resultados obtenidos deben ser tomados en consideración por parte de las autoridades veterinarias en la elaboración de medidas de control de la enfermedad, con el objetivo de garantizar su eficacia y correcta implementación. PALABRAS CLAVE: Tuberculosis, Bovinos, Bioseguridad, Formación, Ganaderos. ABSTRACTA cross sectional study was conducted between April and July 2012 in the North of Portugal, to evaluates cattle owners´ knowledge regarding bovine tuberculosis. A questionnaire was provided to 154 cattle owners. According to the survey, 14.3 % of respondents had its herd already infected by tuberculosis. Result showed that farmers have a good knowledge on the disease despite age and/or lack of training. However, 27.9 % not recognized bovine tuberculosis as one of the most important diseases of cattle due to the economical losses and trade restrictions, 25 % not recognized the airborne transmission and 46.7 % unknown wildlife as a reservoir of bovine tuberculosis. Farmer knowledge about bovine tuberculosis can be considered as an important tool to improve official erradication plans. The present results could be useful for policy makers when planning mitigation measures to consider knowledge levels by cattle owners for effective implementation.

Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, in the northeastern region of Portugal, previously exhibited the highest brucellosis prevalence in the entire small ruminant population of Portugal. Consequently, a vaccination program of the whole population with Brucella melitensis Rev-1 was carried out from 2001 to 2004, and further compulsory Rev-1 vaccination of 3-to 6-month-old lambs and kids was carried out between 2005 and 2007. The prevalence of brucellosis decreased by 71.42% in 2004, with a 2-fold decrease occurring from 2005 to 2007. The reduction of brucellosis prevalence was statistically significant (P < 0.001) according to flock size. By species, brucellosis prevalence decreased 14.5-fold in sheep and 5.5-fold in goats in 2004. Regarding flock constitution, it decreased by 77% for pure flocks and 73% in mixed flocks in 2004. Regarding the animals involved in production, brucellosis prevalence decreased during the 7-year period. It was concluded that Rev-1 vaccination of the whole population was effective in decreasing brucellosis prevalence. These results contribute to the scarce information available regarding the effect of Rev-1 vaccination on different characteristics of flocks. They may be used to improve the efficiency of brucellosis eradication programs within livestock management.

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