Seroprevalence of caseous lymphadenitis in goats sold in an animal fair in the northeastern semi-arid region of Brazil

Abstract

Goat farming in the northeastern regions of Brazil plays an important role in the socio-economic functions of the country. However, high rates of morbidity and mortality occur in the animals, caused primarily by infectious diseases like caseous lymphadenitis, which is widespread in goat herds; this causes serious economic losses to the farming business. Although events such as animal fairs are common in the region, wherein most of the goats and sheep are sold, the risk of disease transmission remains, since the health condition of the animal is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of anti-Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis antibodies present in the goats sold at the animal fair of Tabira - PE, Northeastern semi-arid. Serum samples from 233 goats were collected from the period of November 2014 to June 2015. The diagnosis of infection by C. pseudotuberculosis was made using the indirect ELISA technique. The number of goats seropositive for C. pseudotuberculosis was identified as 87 (37.34%; 95% CI = 31.38 - 43.71%). Of the nine flocks evaluated, five (55.55%) were positive. Thus, it is suggested that infection by C. pseudotuberculosis is widespread in the goats sold at the animal fairs in the semi-arid Northeastern, reinforcing the need for disease diagnosis in goat herds in the region for the possible implementation of disease control programs.