Inácio José Clementino

Soroprevalência e fatores de risco para a leptospirose em cães de Campina Grande, Paraíba

The prevalence of leptospirosis was investigated in dogs from Campina Grande city, State of Paraiba, Brazil, and the risk factors for infection were analyzed. Two hundred and eighty five blood samples were collected from dogs during the rabies vaccination campaign, in September 2003. The diagnostic method run for leptospirosis was the microscopic agglutination test, using a batch of 22 leptospiral serovars. The most prevalent serovar was found crossing the results of frequency and titer of agglutinins. The prevalence was 21.4% (95% CI = 16.8%-26.6%) and most frequent reactant serovars were autumnalis (7.4%), copenhageni (6%) and canicola (2.1%). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors for leptospirosis were: age older than one year (odds ratio = 3.00; P = 0.006), mixed breed (odds ratio = 4.02; P = 0.011) and occurrence of floods in the area (odds ratio = 2.32; P = 0.039).

Soroprevalência de leptospirose em cães errantes da cidade de Patos, Estado da Paraíba, Brasil

This work aimed to survey the prevalence of leptospirosis in stray dogs from Patos city, state of Paraiba, Brazil. This study was held during the period of February to April of 2003, when 130 serum samples were collected. The diagnostic method run for leptospirosis was the microscopic agglutination test, using a batch of 22 leptospiral serovars. The most prevalent serovars were found crossing the results of frequency and titer of agglutinins. The results obtained indicated a prevalence of 20% and most frequent reactant serovars were autumnalis (20%), pomona (17,5%), grippotyphosa (10%) e patoc (10%).

Inquérito soro-epidemiológico e fatores de risco associados à infecção por Brucella ovis em carneiros deslanados do semi-árido da Paraíba

A sero-epidemiological survey was conducted to determine the prevalence and distribution of Brucella ovis infection in rams in the state of Paraiba, northeastern Brazil. The risk factors for the infection were also verified. Serum samples from 498 rams, 8 months of age or older, of 283 sheep herds in the Sertao Paraibano and Borborema mesoregions were investigated. All sera were examined by AGID test (screening test) and CFT (confirmatory test). From the total of examined herds, 8.59% (95% CI = 5.83%-12.48%) were seropositive for Brucella ovis. The prevalence of seropositive rams was 5.57% (95% CI = 3.86%-7.97%). The seropositivity was lower in herds where cleanliness was frequently made (p< 0.05).

Herd-level prevalence and associated risk factors for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in cattle in the State of Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil

A cross-sectional study based on a planned sampling was carried out to determine herd-level and animal-level prevalences, and to identify risk factors associated with herd-level prevalence for bovine paratuberculosis in the State of Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil. The state was divided into three sampling groups: sampling stratum 1 (mesoregion of Sertão), sampling stratum 2 (mesoregion of Borborema), and sampling stratum 3 (mesoregions of Zona da Mata and Agreste). For each sampling stratum, herd-level and animal-level prevalences were estimated by a two-stage sampling survey. In the first stage, a pre-established number of herds (primary sampling units) were randomly selected; in the second stage, a pre-established number of cows aged ≥24 months were randomly selected (secondary sampling units). Ten animals were sampled in herds with up to 99 cows aged over 24 months; 15 animals were sampled in herds with 100 or more cows aged over 24 months; and all animals were sampled in those with up to 10 cows aged over 24 months. In total, 2504 animals were sampled from 480 herds. Enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) test kits were used for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) antibody detection. A herd was deemed positive for the presence of MAP if it included at least one positive animal in herds of up to 24 females, and two positive animals in herds with more than 24 females. The herd-level prevalence in the State of Paraíba was 34.5% (95% CI=30.2-39.1%), 26.6% (95% CI=20.2-34.2%) in the region of Borborema, 30.5% (95% CI=23.9-38.0%) in Agreste/Mata, and 41.4% (95% CI=34.0-49.1%) in Sertão. The animal-level prevalence was 10.7% (95% CI=7.3-15.4%) in the State of Paraíba, 7.9% (95% CI=5.2-11.7%) in the region of Borborema, 9.4% (95% CI=7.3-12.1%) in Sertão, and 13.9% (95% CI=6.2--28.3%) in Agreste/Mata. The frequency of seropositive animals per herd ranged from 6.7% to 100% (median of 20%). The risk factors identified were as follows: Sertão region (OR=1.9), more than 12 adult animals in the herd (OR=1.9), and not using maternity pens (OR=1.7). Our findings suggest that MAP herd-level seroprevalence in the State of Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil, is high, and support the idea that the use of maternity pens will be important for preventing transmission of MAP in the herds.

Detection of Brucella ovis in ovine from Paraíba State, in the Northeast region of Brazil

To determine the presence of Brucella ovis in ovine from Paraiba State, in the Northeast region of Brazil, 80 animals slaughtered in the public slaughterhouse of Patos city were used. Before slaughter, blood samples were collected by jugular venopuncture from each animal, and after slaughter, testicles, epidydimus and uterus were aseptically collected. For the serological diagnosis of B. ovis and B. abortus infections, the agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) and Rose Bengal (RBT) tests were carried out, respectively. In addition, microbiological culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed on testicle, epidydimus and uterus samples. Six animals (7.5%) tested positive for the presence of B. ovis antibodies and all animals tested negative for the presence of B. abortus antibodies. One AGID-positive animal tested positive at uterine swab culture. PCR was able to amplify DNA of Brucella spp. from the pool of testicle, epidydimus and uterus samples from AGID-positive animals. This is the first report of isolation and detection of B. ovis DNA by PCR in ovine from the Northeast region of Brazil.

Soroprevalência e fatores de risco para a língua azul em carneiros das mesorregiões do Sertão e da Borborema, semi-árido do Estado da Paraíba, Brasil

The prevalence of antibodies against Bluetongue virus in rams of the Sertao and Borborema mesoregions, semiarid of the Paraiba state, Northeastern Brazil, was determined, and risk factors for the infection were identified. The sampling was delineated for the determination of the prevalence of positive herds and seropositive animals for each mesoregion. Herds (primary units) were randomly selected in the Sertao mesoregion (n = 189) and in the Borborema mesoregion (n = 100). Within the primary units, all rams (secondary units) were sampled, resulting in 321 animals of the Sertao mesoregion and in 185 animals of the Borborema mesoregion. During collection, an epidemiological questionnaire was applied to each herd. For serological diagnosis, the agar gel immunodiffusion test (AGID) with antigen produced in the School of Veterinary Medicine of the Federal University of Minas Gerais was carried out. Herds with at least one positive animal were considered positive. In Sertao mesoregion, the prevalence of positive herds and seropositive animals were 11.6% [7.8% 17.1%] and 8.4% [5.7% - 12.3%], respectively. In Borborema mesoregion, the prevalence of positive herds was 0.0% [0.0% - 3.6%] and the prevalence of seropositive animals was 0.0% [0.0% - 2.0%]. The risk factors associated with Bluetongue were lack of cleaning and disinfection of facilities (OR = 5.51), and administration of anti-parasitic treatment twice to four times per year (OR = 4.44).

Leptospirose bovina no Estado da Paraíba: prevalência e fatores de risco associados à ocorrência de propriedades positivas

Herd-level and animal-level prevalences were determined and risk factors associated with leptospirosis were identified in cows in the State of Paraiba, Northeastern Brazil. A total of 2,317 cows with ≥ 24 months of age from 450 herds were randomly sampled. For the serological diagnosis of Leptospira spp. infection, the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was carried out using 24 serovars as antigens. A herd was considered positive when presented at least one seropositive animal. Of the 450 investigated herds, 398 (89.7%; 95% CI = 86.6-92.2%) presented at least one reactant animal at MAT to any serovar, and 1,349 (61.1%; 95% CI = 56.6-65.4%) animals were seropositive. Serovar Hardjo was the most prevalent in herds and animals, with frequencies of 58.17% and 54.69% respectively. Location of the herd in the Sertao (odds ratio = 3.20; p=0.003), presence of wildlife (odds ratio =2.89; p=0.005), not cooling milk (odds ratio =3.83; p=0.034) and presence of flooded pastures (odds ratio =2.36; p<0.001) were identified as risk factors for herd-level prevalence. It is concluded that leptospirosis is widely spread in cattle in State of Paraiba, which reinforces the need for increased prevention and control measures, such as vaccination of herds. According to the results of risk factors analysis it is suggested that the sanitary control before the introduction of animals, drainage of wetlands and improvement in management conditions are important measures to preventing the infection.

Distrofia muscular nutricional em ovinos na Paraíba

An outbreak of nutritional muscular dystrophy is reported in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil affecting 3-4 months old Dorper sheep. The animals, weighing 30-40 kg, were fed ad libitum with milk, concentrated ration, Tifton hay, and a mineral mixture. Six out of 70 lambs were affected and died in the first 48 hours after the onset of the outbreak. Clinical signs were fever of 40-41oC, incoordination followed by paralysis and recumbence, depression, prostration with decreased pupillary and corneal reflexes, decreased tonus of the tongue and maxilla, salivation, submaxillar edema, and increased cardiac and respiratory rates. Death occurred after a clinical manifestation period of 6-12 hours. At necropsy of three animals, skeletal muscles were pale, the liver was yellowish and enlarged, the parotid, submaxillary, retropharyngeal, prescapular and mediastinal lymph nodes were enlarged with red surface, and red areas were observed on the lung surface. On histology, segmental muscular necrosis was observed in all skeletal muscles examined. The liver had centrilobular fatty degeneration, and congestion was observed in the lung and lymph nodes. From 48-96 hours after the begin of the outbreak, another 3 animals were affected. They were treated with Vitamin A, E and D complex; two of them died and one survived. On the same farm, a flock of 20 Santa Ines sheep of the same age as the affected animals, fed with the same food, but no milk, and another 900 sheep of different ages were not affected. The over nutrition of sheep with fast growing rates, and the stress caused by two days of water restriction to improve milk consumption had been predisposing factors for the occurrence of the disease. It is also possible that some of the minerals supplemented interfered with selenium availability.

Seroprevalence and risk factors for Bluetongue in rams of the Sertão and Borborema mesoregions, semi-arid of Paraíba state, Northeastern Brazil

The prevalence of antibodies against Bluetongue virus in rams of the Sertao and Borborema mesoregions, semiarid of the Paraiba state, Northeastern Brazil, was determined, and risk factors for the infection were identified. The sampling was delineated for the determination of the prevalence of positive herds and seropositive animals for each mesoregion. Herds (primary units) were randomly selected in the Sertao mesoregion (n = 189) and in the Borborema mesoregion (n = 100). Within the primary units, all rams (secondary units) were sampled, resulting in 321 animals of the Sertao mesoregion and in 185 animals of the Borborema mesoregion. During collection, an epidemiological questionnaire was applied to each herd. For serological diagnosis, the agar gel immunodiffusion test (AGID) with antigen produced in the School of Veterinary Medicine of the Federal University of Minas Gerais was carried out. Herds with at least one positive animal were considered positive. In Sertao mesoregion, the prevalence of positive herds and seropositive animals were 11.6% [7.8% 17.1%] and 8.4% [5.7% - 12.3%], respectively. In Borborema mesoregion, the prevalence of positive herds was 0.0% [0.0% - 3.6%] and the prevalence of seropositive animals was 0.0% [0.0% - 2.0%]. The risk factors associated with Bluetongue were lack of cleaning and disinfection of facilities (OR = 5.51), and administration of anti-parasitic treatment twice to four times per year (OR = 4.44).