Ocorrência da infecção por Brucella ovis em ovinos do município de Alegre/ES

Abstract

RESUMO O estudo teve como objetivo verificar a prevalência da infecção por Brucella ovis em rebanhos de ovinos na cidade de Alegre, localizada no sul do estado do Espírito Santo, Brasil. A infecção afeta principalmente o trato reprodutivo dos animais infectados, causando epididimite, orquite com comprometimento na qualidade dos espermatozoides nos machos, abortamento e nascimento de cordeiros fracos e prematuros nas fêmeas gestantes, e endometrite nas fêmeas vazias. Foram visitadas três propriedades, totalizando 197 animais, que tiveram amostras de sangue coletadas e posteriormente centrifugadas, para obtenção do soro e posterior detecção da presença de anticorpos contra B. ovis pela técnica de Imunodifusão em Gel de Ágar (IDGA). Das 197 amostras analisadas, 20 (10,15%) foram positivas. Deste modo, foi observada a primeira evidência sorológica da infecção por B. ovis nos rebanhos de ovinos em Alegre/ES, que pode levar ao comprometimento na produtividade do rebanho, sendo se necessário aplicar medidas de controle para que não haja disseminação da infecção para os animais sadios. Palavras chave: brucelose ovina, epidemiologia, orquite Occurrence of Brucella ovis infection in sheep of the municipality of Alegre/ESABSTRACT. The objective of the present study was investigate the prevalence of infection by Brucella ovis in flocks of sheep in the city of Alegre, located in southern Espirito Santo, Brazil. The infection mainly affects the reproductive tract of infected animals, causing epididymitis, orchitis with compromised sperm quality in males as well as abortion and weak and premature lambs in pregnant females, and endometritis in empty females. Three properties were visited, totalizing 197 animals, where blood samples were collected and subsequently centrifuged to investigate the presence of antibodies against B. ovis by IDGA. From those animals, 20 (10.15%) were positive. In this way, it was observed the first serological evidence of infection by B. ovis in flocks of sheep at Alegre/ES, which can lead to compromised productivity of the herd, being used to control the spread of infection to healthy animals.

Human and animal brucellosis: Literature review

“…The main clinical signs of the disease are fever, weakening, dyspnea (BOTELHO; ZEFERINO, 2018), reduced fertility and inflammation of the genital organs (LIMA, 2015). In females, weak or stillborn lambs, abortion or placentitis may occur, while in males epididymitis is common (BOTELHO; ZEFERINO, 2018).…”

“…Contact with excretions of infected animals can spread ovine brucellosis in the herd (LIMA, 2015), and venereal transmission is of great importance in the spread of the disease (OLSEN;BELLAIRE, 2016), and can occur between ram-sheep and ram-sheep (QUINN et al, 2007). According to Botelho and Zeferino (2018), non-carrier males are infected when covering sheep previously covered by infected males, which is defined as passive venereal transmission.…”

“…ovis can be detected in ovine semen around 20 days after infection, with clinical signs of epididymitis detected after nine weeks (QUINN et al, 2007). Females eliminate B. ovis by vaginal secretion and lambs born to infected mothers may develop the disease after puberty (BOTELHO; ZEFERINO, 2018). The pathogen can be identified in milk samples, genital secretions and tissues (LIMA, 2015).…”

“…Raising sheep in an intensive system increases the chances of spreading the disease, since the animals are close for long periods. In addition, B. ovis can persist in the environment, surviving in milk, urine and water for approximately 120 days (BOTELHO; ZEFERINO, 2018). Therefore, sanitary and hygienic measures are essential to avoid contamination and spread of the pathogen in the herd.…”

Epididimite em ovinos por Brucella ovis

“…Em Alegre, município no Espírito Santo, um total de 197 animais foi submetido ao teste IDGA, e 20 deles (10,2%) testaram positivo. Quando se considerou as propriedades, duas delas tinham animais positivos, representando uma taxa de positividade de 66,7%, enquanto uma propriedade possuía todo o rebanho livre da infecção causada pela Brucella ovis (BOTELHO et al, 2018).…”