PREVALÊNCIA DE ANTICORPOS ANTI-BRUCELLA ABORTUS EM EQUÍDEOS ATENDIDOS NO HOSPITAL VETERINÁRIO DO CENTRO DE CIÊNCIAS AGRÁRIAS DA UFPB.

Abstract

Equine brucellosis is a zoonosis caused primarily by the bacterium Brucella abortus. It causes debilitating lesions and euthanasia is recommended for affected animals. Few studies address the disease in the equine species, making it difficult to observe the distribution of the disease at the national and world level. In this study, the prevalence of brucellosis was investigated among 62 horses that were treated at the UFPB Veterinary Hospital, as well as the epidemiology of the disease in the region, using serological tests and a socio-epidemiological questionnaire. The blood serum of the animals was evaluated by the Acidified Buffered Antigen (AAT) test, and of the 66 blood samples analyzed, none reacted to the test. All animals were considered negative for serological tests for the diagnosis of brucellosis. It was concluded that equine brucellosis of low epidemiological importance in the micro-regions of Brejo and Curimataú Paraíba.