um Fatores de risco e detecção de brucella ovis em carneiros e ovelhas naturalmente infectados : Risk factors and detection of brucella ovis in naturally infected rams and ewes

The obectives of the present study were to verify the occurrence of ovine brucellosis using AGID and conventional PCR techniques and to identify the main risk factors associated with infection in the sheep herds in municipalities in the microregion of Teresina, PI, Brazil. A total of 100 urine and blood samples were collected from sheep aged 6 months or older.  The urine samples were submitted to conventional PCR and the blood samples were examined by the AGID technique.  Of the 100 blood samples, 17 (17%) were reactive to the AGID test. In the conventional PCR test on the 100 urine samples, 6 (6%) were reactive to the AGID test and three animals were positive in both tests. Risk factors associated to infection by B. ovis included the rearing system (OR=0.19), feed management (OR=0.05), presence of dystotic births (OR=4.50), miscarriages (OR=3.75) and source of water offered to the animals (OR=0.19). Thus, it was concluded that it is possible to detect the occurrence of animals with ovine brucellosis since PCR is a reliable method to confirm infection.  Furthermore, there are risk factors associated to infection by B. ovis in the municipalities studied.