Bovine brucellosis (BB) is a compulsory notifiable bacterial disease caused by Brucella abortus, which is responsible for severe reproductive disorders in cattle, considerable damages to trade and public health damage. The objectives of this study were to identify the frequency of BB and to analyze the risk factors in the dairy herds of the Rio Branco microregion, in the state of Acre, Brazil. Thus, 527-bovine-serological samples were submitted to the buffered acidified antigen test and to 2-mercaptoethanol. Risk factors were characterized by the administration of epidemiological questionnaires. The logistic regression test was used to evaluate the existence of a significant association between the variables. The frequency of BB in the Rio Branco microregion was 10.6% (56/527). The inappropriate destination of the aborted fetus and placental remnants (odds ratio — OR = 13.6), the slaughter of cattle within the property (OR = 3.4) and the age range above 4 years old (OR = 2.9) were the most significant risk factors identified by the logistic regression model. According to the results of this study, it is recommended to intensify BB control and prophylaxis measures in the microregion of Rio Branco, especially those related to sanitary and reproductive management in the livestock breeding.

Enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) is an infectious disease of cosmopolitan distribution and chronic character caused by a virus of the Retroviridae family, bovine leukemia virus (BLV). The epidemiological situation of EBL in Brazil has motivated studies to improve its diagnosis, based on the recommended serological techniques: agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). This study was designed to evaluate the use of imported ELISA for the detection of BLV in dairy herds raised in Pernambuco, Brazil, comparing it to AGID. Blood serum samples from 327 dairy cattle from the state of Pernambuco were tested to AGID and the imported commercial ELISA CHEKIT-Leucose-serum, produced by the IDEXX® laboratory for the diagnosis of EBL. Discarding 25 inconclusive samples from one or both tests, 302 samples were analyzed, being 24.1% positive (73/302) in the AGID and 45% (136/302) in the ELISA, which compared to the AGID, a technique considered standard, presented sensitivity of 98.6%, specificity of 72% and Kappa coefficient of 0.55. The lack of agreement in the diagnostic methods was probably due to the high sensitivity of the ELISA, which makes it possible to detect antibodies even in situations with low serum levels. Although AGID has been shown to be an efficient test so far, in more advanced stages of an EBL control and eradication program, with low prevalence rates, ELISA will present better performance, due to its higher sensitivity, avoiding the permanence of animals that spread the disease in the herds.

Lentivirosis of small ruminants (LVPR) are chronic and degenerative infectious diseases, caused by Lentivirus, associated with numerous losses such as: drop in meat and milk production, predisposition to secondary infections, expenses with veterinary assistance and, even, early disposal of animals. In the northern region of Brazil, the epidemiological situation is poorly understood. Thus, this study aimed to determine the seropositivity of sheep for Lentivirus in Porto Acre city, Western Amazon, Brazil. 122 blood samples from sheep were collected and as a diagnostic method, agarose gel immunodiffusion was used, using the p28 protein of the capsid as antigen. The seropositivity of the sheep to the test was 8.2% (10/122). In 80% (4/5) of the investigated properties, the presence of seropositive animals was detected. It is worth noting that the acquisition of small ruminants from other states likely represented a risk to sheep health in the municipality of Porto Acre, Western Amazon, Brazil. It is concluded that there is a need for more systematic investigations on the prevalence of LVPR in the state of Acre.

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Article history Trueperella pyogenes is a pathogenic bacterium that causes suppurative infections in domestic and wild animals as well as humans. This paper describes a clinical case of subcutaneous abscess by T. pyogenes in a bovine in the Western Amazon, Brazil. During anamnesis, intramuscular injectable drug administration in the middle third of the left gluteal biceps muscle and the practice of reusing needles were reported. The clinical examination revealed edema, hyperthermia and high pain sensitivity to the touch in the region. A sample was collected through a puncture incision for the bacterial culture, during which T. pyogenes was isolated. The therapeutic approach was the use of a systemic antimicrobial and topical care, with a good prognosis. This report is the first description of infection by T. pyogenes in cattle in the Western Amazon and underscores the importance of appropriate sanitary management in herds, especially the use of disposable needles and hygiene at the site of parenteral drug application.