Seroprevalence of Brucella ovis-epididymitis, smooth-Brucella, leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis, and Maedi-Visna in sheep slaughtered in Minas Gerais State, Brazil / Soroprevalência de Brucella ovis, Brucella lisa, leptospirose, toxoplasmose e Maedi-Visna em ovinos abatidos em Minas Gerais, Brasil

The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of antibodies against Brucella ovis-epididymitis, smooth-Brucella, leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis and Maedi-visna in sheep slaughtered in Minas Gerais, Brazil and to study their simultaneous occurrence, including caseous lymphadenitis, at sheep and flock levels. The study was conducted at a sheep slaughterhouse with Federal Inspection Service. Sera from 594 animals from 21 flocks were collected, in 2007. The agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) was employed to detect anti-B. ovis and anti-Maedi Visna antibodies, whereas Rose Bengal (RB) and the 2-mercaptoethanol test (2ME) were used to test anti-smooth Brucella antibodies. For the detection of anti-Leptospiraantibodies, sera were examined by microscopic agglutination test (MAT), while for the detection of IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii ELISA was used. Prevalence of antibodies against smooth Brucella, B. ovis-epididimitis, Leptospiraspp., toxoplasmosis and Maedi-Visna found in sheep from Minas Gerais was 0.00%, 24.04%, 25.96%, 10.46% and 3.08%, respectively; whereas the seroprevalence in flocks was 0.00%, 80.95%, 90.48%, 71.43% and 23.81%, respectively. Moreover, when data on antibodies anti-Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, previously obtained, were included, about 60% of the flocks showed animals that were exposed to four or more of the studied agents. However, only 25.47% of the sheep exhibited simultaneously antibodies against more than one pathogen. Thus, data from the present study on sheep slaughtered in Minas Gerais, Brazil, showed no antibodies to smooth-Brucella and a low frequency of antibodies anti-Maedi Visna lentivirus, and a high and widespread seroprevalence of B. ovis, Leptospira spp., and T. gondii among animals and flocks.(AU)

O presente estudo teve como objetivo estimar a prevalência de anticorpos contra Brucella ovis (epididimite ovina), Brucellalisa, leptospirose, toxoplasmose e Maedi-visna em ovinos abatidos em Minas Gerais, Brasil, e estudar sua ocorrência simultânea, incluindo linfadenite caseosa, nos ovinos e nos rebanhos. O estudo foi realizado em um abatedouro de ovinos com Serviço de Inspeção Federal. Soros de 594 animais de 21 rebanhos foram coletados, em 2007. A imunodifusão em gel de ágar (IDGA) foi empregada para detectar anticorpos anti-B. ovis e anticorpos anti-Maedi Visna, enquanto o teste do antígeno acidificado tamponado (AAT) e o teste de 2-mercaptoetanol (2ME) foram utilizados para testar anticorpos anti-Brucella lisa. Para a detecção de anticorpos anti-Leptospira, os soros foram examinados pelo teste de aglutinação microscópica (MAT), enquanto que para a detecção de anticorpos IgG para Toxoplasma gondii, foi usado o ELISA. A prevalência de anticorpos anti-Brucella lisa, B. ovis, Leptospira spp., toxoplasmose e Maedi-Visna encontrados em ovinos de Minas Gerais foi de 0,00%, 24,04%, 25,96%, 10,46% e 3,08%, respectivamente; enquanto a soroprevalência em rebanhos foi de 0,00%, 80,95%, 90,48%, 71,43% e 23,81%, respectivamente. Além disso, quando dados de anticorpos anti-Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, previamente obtidos, foram incluídos, cerca de 60% dos rebanhos apresentaram animais expostos a quatro ou mais dos agentes estudados. No entanto, apenas 25,47% dos ovinos exibiram simultaneamente anticorpos contra mais de um patógeno. Assim, os dados do presente estudo sobre ovinos abatidos em Minas Gerais, Brasil, mostram que ausência de anticorpos anti-Brucella lisa e baixa frequência de anticorpos anti-Maedi Visna, e uma soroprevalência alta e generalizada de B. ovis, Leptospira spp. e T. gondii entre animais e rebanhos.(AU)

Management practices to control gastrointestinal parasites in dairy and beef goats in Minas Gerais; Brazil.

Parasitic infection is recognized worldwide as a limiting factor in the production of goats, and various control methods are used to reduce economic losses, often without considering the epidemiology of the parasites. This has led to the development of highly tolerant parasite populations and the presence of chemical residues in the beef and milk. The objective of this study was to determine the level of knowledge of goat farmers about parasitic diseases and to correlate this with the epidemiology of endoparasites and parasite control practices in goat farms in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The analysis was based on a questionnaire applied by trained veterinarians. The sample was homogeneous throughout the state, covering 18.4% (157/853) of municipalities. Eighty-four dairy goat farms in 81 municipalities and 200 properties with beef goats in 76 municipalities were evaluated. The herd size per goat farm ranged from 4 to 57 (average 24) for beef herds and from 2 to 308 (average 63) for dairy farms. The majority of the beef herd production was extensive and semi-extensive (98.5%), while the dairy herds were maintained under intensive farming (98.8%). The mixed production of goats and sheep was reported by 36.5% of beef goat farmers and by 20.2% of dairy goat farmers. Among the beef goats farms on which the technological level was determined, 2.0% were categorized as having high technological level, 34.5% as medium, and 63.5% as low. Of the 84 dairy farms, 30% operated at a high, 47% at a medium, and 23% at a low technological level. The adoption of practices to reduce parasitism, such as the quarantine of animals, treatment of newly arrived animals, regular cleaning of the floor, and technical assistance, was significantly higher on dairy farms than on beef farms. Although 85.7% of dairy farmers and 83% of beef farmers medicate their animals, the treatments were performed without technical criteria, and deworming intervals ranged from 30 to 120 days or more. The average interval between treatments was significantly longer in dairy goat herds (4.8 months) than in the beef herds (3.6 months). The most commonly used drugs were macrocyclic lactones (37.7% in dairy and 39.5% in beef herds) and benzimidazoles (48.9% in dairy and 31.5% in beef herds). Goat production in Minas Gerais is still in its infancy, and even though using a control program associated with other health practices, producers still rely heavily on chemicals to get satisfactory results.