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Home / Equine Research Bank / Microorganisms / Risk Factors Associated with the Prevalence of Antibodies Ag...
Microorganisms2025; 13(7); 1525; doi: 10.3390/microorganisms13071525

Risk Factors Associated with the Prevalence of Antibodies Against Brucellosis in Equids from Western Pará, Brazil.

Abstract: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of antibodies against equine brucellosis in three distinct equid groups (farm animal, urban carthorse, and sport horse) in Western Pará, Brazil, and to identify associated risk factors. A cross-sectional study, involving 75 farms across 14 municipalities, sampled 1069 equids composed of urban carthorses and sport horses. Serum samples were tested for antibodies against spp. using the buffered acidified plate antigen (BAPA) test for screening, followed by the serum agglutination in tubes with 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) for confirmation. Univariate and multivariate analyses assessed associations between brucellosis and potential risk factors. Out of the 1059 equids sampled, 4.05% (95% CI: 3-5.5%) tested positive in the BAPA test. Of the 44 BAPA-positive samples, 11 were confirmed positive by 2-ME, 15 were inconclusive, and 18 were negative, yielding an animal-level prevalence of 1.03% (95% CI: 0.5-1.8%) for equine brucellosis in western Pará. Prevalence was higher in the Southwest Pará Mesoregion ( = 0.047) compared to the Lower Amazon Mesoregion. No significant associations were found with animal type, reproductive problems, animal sex, species, breed, and age group. Out of the 75 farms, 8 (10.66%) had at least one seropositive equid. Confirmed cases were identified in five municipalities (Brasil Novo, Uruará, Altamira, Rurópolis, and Itaituba). This first report of equine brucellosis in Western Pará underscores the need for enhanced surveillance and control measures to mitigate its zoonotic risk to humans and transmission to other animals.
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Publication Date: 2025-06-30 PubMed ID: 40732034PubMed Central: PMC12300171DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms13071525Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study establishes the prevalence of antibodies against equine brucellosis in different equid groups in Western Pará, Brazil and points out the risk factors associated with it.

Methodology

  • The research was a cross-sectional study which covered 75 farms across 14 municipalities.
  • 1069 equids, primarily urban carthorses and sport horses, were sampled for the research.
  • The initial testing was performed using the buffered acidified plate antigen (BAPA) test.
  • This was followed by confirmation via the serum agglutination in tubes with 2-Mercaptoethanol (2-ME) test.
  • Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine associations between brucellosis and potential risk factors.

Findings

  • The initial BAPA test showed that 4.05% (45 equids) produced antibodies against brucellosis.
  • Out of the 45 BAPA-positive tests, 11 were confirmed positive by the 2-ME test, 15 were inconclusive, and 18 were negative.
  • This indicated an animal-level prevalence of 1.03% for equine brucellosis in this region.
  • The prevalence was higher in the Southwest Pará Mesoregion compared to the Lower Amazon Mesoregion.
  • No significant factors—like animal type, reproductive problems, animal sex, species, breed, and age group—were correlated with the presence of brucellosis antibodies.
  • Out of the 75 farms, 8 had at least one seropositive equid, equating to 10.66% of farms.
  • The confirmed cases were identified in five different municipalities: Brasil Novo, Uruará, Altamira, Rurópolis, and Itaituba.

Conclusion

  • This is the first report studying equine brucellosis in Western Pará, Brazil.
  • The study calls for increased surveillance and control measures to mitigate the risk of transmission to humans and other animals.

Cite This Article

APA
Picanço EMB, Assis FFV, Peleja PL, Sousa ABB, Barrêto Júnior RA, Lima RF, Neves KAL, Minervino AHH. (2025). Risk Factors Associated with the Prevalence of Antibodies Against Brucellosis in Equids from Western Pará, Brazil. Microorganisms, 13(7), 1525. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13071525

Publication

Microorganisms
ISSN: 2076-2607
NlmUniqueID: 101625893
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 7
PII: 1525

Researcher Affiliations

Picanço, Eloine Maria Bandeira
  • Laboratory of Animal Health, LARSANA, Federal University of Western Pará, UFOPA, Av. Vera Paz, S/N, Salé, Santarém 68040-255, PA, Brazil.
Assis, Francisco Flávio Vieira de
  • Laboratory of Animal Health, LARSANA, Federal University of Western Pará, UFOPA, Av. Vera Paz, S/N, Salé, Santarém 68040-255, PA, Brazil.
  • Graduate Program in Society, Nature and Development, Federal University of Western Pará, UFOPA, Av. Vera Paz, S/N, Salé, Santarém 68040-255, PA, Brazil.
Peleja, Poliana Leão
  • Laboratory of Animal Health, LARSANA, Federal University of Western Pará, UFOPA, Av. Vera Paz, S/N, Salé, Santarém 68040-255, PA, Brazil.
Sousa, Ana Beatriz Barbosa de
  • Laboratory of Animal Health, LARSANA, Federal University of Western Pará, UFOPA, Av. Vera Paz, S/N, Salé, Santarém 68040-255, PA, Brazil.
Barrêto Júnior, Raimundo Alves
  • Department of Animal Science, Federal Rural University of the Semiarid Region, UFERSA, Mossoró 59625-900, RN, Brazil.
Lima, Ronaldo Francisco de
  • Instituto of Biodiversity and Forrest, IBEF, Federal University of Western Pará, UFOPA, Av. Vera Paz, S/N, Salé, Santarém 68040-255, PA, Brazil.
Neves, Kedson Alessandri Lobo
  • Instituto of Biodiversity and Forrest, IBEF, Federal University of Western Pará, UFOPA, Av. Vera Paz, S/N, Salé, Santarém 68040-255, PA, Brazil.
Minervino, Antonio Humberto Hamad
  • Laboratory of Animal Health, LARSANA, Federal University of Western Pará, UFOPA, Av. Vera Paz, S/N, Salé, Santarém 68040-255, PA, Brazil.

Grant Funding

  • 094/2023 / Fundau00e7u00e3o Amazu00f4nia de Amparo a Estudos e Pesquisas - FAPESPA

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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