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.
Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Publication Date: 2025-03-17 PubMed ID: 40107370DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105407Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study uncovers the prevalence of Brucella abortus infection, a strain of brucellosis, in horses, donkeys, and mules in the state of Goiás in Brazil and stresses the need for integrated management of the disease in cattle and equids due to its zoonotic characteristics and the risk of cross-infection.
Methodology
- The study was conducted on 299 farms across 132 municipalities in the state of Goiás, Brazil, involving a total of 897 equids, inclusive of horses, donkeys, and mules.
- Samples were taken from these animals and then subjected to the rose bengal plate agglutination test (RBPAT) to identify the presence of Brucella abortus.
- The tests that reacted positively to RBPAT were further confirmed using the 2-Mercaptoethanol (2-ME) test.
Results
- Out of the total tested animals, 111 reacted positively to the RBPAT, of which 40 were confirmed as reactive by the 2-ME test. This signifies a seroprevalence of 4.46% in the equids studied.
- The distribution of seropositive equids for Brucella Abortus in the state was scattered, which indicates that the disease is not confined to particular regions within the state.
- Of the animals that reacted, 87.5% were horses, and 12.5% were mules. None of the tested donkeys reacted to the bacteria in this study.
- A statistical assessment disclosed no notable correlation between the variables of age, species, sex, purpose, and stratum, and the positive outcomes in the 2-ME test.
- About 82.35% of the herds with reactive animals had only one reactive animal, suggesting equids are probably getting infected through contact with infected cattle.
Conclusions
- The findings underline the need for an integrated approach in managing the disease concerning both cattle and equids due to the zoonotic nature of brucellosis and the risk of cross-species infection.
- It also stresses the necessity to extend the study over a broader geographical range to ascertain the extent of the disease beyond the state of Goiás in Brazil.
Cite This Article
APA
Martins AS, Romanowski TNA, Campos JS, Vieira RC, Silva TA, Borsanelli AC.
(2025).
Anti-Brucella abortus antibodies in equids in the state of Goiás, Brazil.
J Equine Vet Sci, 105407.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105407 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
- Agência Goiana de Defesa Agropecuária, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
- Agência Goiana de Defesa Agropecuária, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
- Agência Goiana de Defesa Agropecuária, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, GO, Brazil. Electronic address: anaborsanelli@ufg.br.
Conflict of Interest Statement
Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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