Serum epidemiological survey and risk factors investigation for lentivirus in goats from Sisal Region, Bahia, Brazil

Abstract

This study aimed to carry out a serum epidemiological survey of goat arthritis encephalitis in the sisal region of Bahia, Brazil, and to evaluate risk factors. We evaluated 831 samples of goat blood serum among males and females older than six months, from 49 farms distributed among the municipalities of Araci, Cansanção, Conceição do Coité, Itiúba, Monte Santo, Nordestina, Queimadas, Santa Luz, São Domingos and Valente. An epidemiological questionnaire for the analysis of possible risk factors was applied. All sera were tested for immune-agar gel. The seroprevalence obtained in surveyed herds was 1.56% (13/831). There was significant difference (p<0.05) for animal racial pattern, type of farming and breeding systems. However, when considering herds with predominantly dairy breeds (Saanen and Alpine Pardo), the seropositivity in animals from Valente, Conceição do Coité and São Domingos amounted to 5.06% (12/237). In these municipalities, from 14 properties analyzed, five (38.5%) had at least one positive-testing animal. This result is extremely worrying when one considers that few control measures are adopted by farmers to prevent the goat arthritis encephalitis in the most important dairy region of Bahia state.