Anti-Brucella abortus antibodies in equids in the state of Goiás, Brazil

Abstract

Brucellosis is a zoonosis caused by bacteria of Brucella genus, which affects domestic and wild animals and humans. In horses, the infection can be caused by Brucella canis, Brucella suis or Brucella abortus, through the ingestion of contaminated food, contact of bacteria with skin wounds or through the respiratory tract, manifesting with signs such as fistulous withers and reduced performance. The present study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of Brucella abortus infection in equids in the state of Goiás. Sampling was carried out on 299 farms across 132 municipalities, with a total of 897 equids, including horses, donkeys and mules. Among the animals tested, 111 reacted to the rose bengal plate agglutination test (RBPAT), with 40 confirmed as reactive by the 2-Mercaptoethanol (2-ME) test, resulting in a seroprevalence of 4.46 %. Among the reactive animals, 87.5 % were horses, 12.5 % were mules and no donkeys were reactive in this study. The distribution of seropositive animals was dispersed throughout the state of Goiás, suggesting that brucellosis is not restricted to a specific region. Furthermore, statistical analysis revealed no significant association between the variables age, species, sex, purpose, and stratum and positivity in the 2-ME test. Of the 34 herds with reactive animals, 82.35 % had only one reactive animal, which suggests that equines are becoming infected through contact with infected cattle. Thus, the results reinforce the need for integrated disease management for both bovine and equine brucellosis, due to its zoonotic potential and the possibility of cross-infection with other species.