ABSTRACT
The present study, the first to spatially characterize Leptospira spp. infection among equids in the Brejo Paraibano micro-region of the Paraiba state in the northeast of Brazil, investigated 257 animals in 26 farms properties. Serum samples from 204 horses, 46 mules and seven donkeys were serologically diagnosed using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). The distribution of Leptospira spp. was studied by employing specific antigens from 24 different Leptospira serovars. All farms were georeferenced and their distribution visualised on a map of the Brejo Paraibano micro-region. In addition, rainfall data were obtained from the same year, in which the sampling was performed. Among the 20 farms found to harbour animals with leptospirosis, 14 (70%) exhibited low prevalence, five (25%) medium prevalence and one (5%), high prevalence. Certain areas had a higher density of infected farms and required intervention to control the infection. Many serovars were widely distributed, while others were more common in particular areas. There was no significant association between the prevalence of Leptospira spp. infection and rainfall.
Subject(s)
Horse Diseases/epidemiology , Leptospira , Leptospirosis/veterinary , Animals , Brazil/epidemiology , Equidae/microbiology , Horse Diseases/microbiology , Horses/microbiology , Leptospirosis/epidemiology , Prevalence , Rain , Spatial AnalysisABSTRACT
Objetivou-se com este estudo determinar a prevalência da infecção por Brucella spp. em equídeos no Brejo Paraibano. Foram analisadas 257 amostras em 26 propriedades. Para o diagnóstico utilizou-se o teste do Antígeno Acidificado Tamponado. Das 257 amostras analisadas nenhuma foi reagente. Este é o primeiro estudo a pesquisar anticorpos contra Brucella spp. em equídeos nessa microrregião. Apesar de não terem sido diagnosticados animais reagentes e da menor importância epidemiológica em equídeos se comparados aos bovídeos, inquéritos epidemiológicos são necessários para determinar o status sorológico nestas espécies, uma vez que as mesmas podem servir como fonte de infecção para outras espécies, incluindo o homem.