Analysis of the risk factors for bovine brucellosis in dairy herds of the Rio Branco microregion, Acre, Brazil

Abstract

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.

Seroepidemiology of bovine brucellosis in Colombia’s preeminent dairy region, and its potential public health impact

“…The seropositivity at the animal level also showed a significant association with the presence of wildlife, which is consistent with other studies conducted in Brazil, Zimbabwe, and the USA [15,34,42]. Surveillance of wildlife and synanthropic animals is strongly recommended, since those animals could serve as potential reservoirs or vectors [19,29].…”

“…The different management practices used for milk production offer an opportunity for the bacteria to multiply and spread the disease faster [10]. Consistent with others studies, management practices such as co-grazing [15,17], the sharing of water sources with the neighborhood [8] and the lack of exclusive maternity pens [15] were associated with a seropositive animal in the study.…”

Seroprevalence and risk factors of brucellosis and the brucellosis model at the individual level of dairy cattle in the West Bandung District, Indonesia

“…A good calving interval is ±365 days [68]. Moreover, the ideal distance between births is 12 months [58]. The results of a previous study conducted by Ndazigaruye et al [21] stated that the calving interval of animals with positive brucellosis for 65.8% of respondents was longer than 1 year.…”

“…Abortion in cattle brucellosis generally occurs from the gestational age of 6-9 months [4,57]. Flocks that had animals with a history of third-trimester abortion were found to be higher in seropositive brucellosis [32,33,58]. The third-trimester abortion history [59] as well as the abortion history [60] was found to be significantly associated with bovine brucellosis.…”

“…During pregnancy, erythritol will be produced as a growth agent needed by B. abortus. Besides, several studies mentioned that age is a risk factor for brucellosis and the prevalence of the disease is directly proportional to the older age [58,66]. Erythritol is a preferential carbon source for most Brucella, a group of facultative intracellular bacteria that cause zoonosis around the world.…”