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Year 2000 - Volume 20, Number 2
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Seroprevalence of Babesia bovis in cattle in the "Norte Fluminense " mesoregion, 20(2):75-79
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ABSTRACT.- Soares C.O., Souza J.C.P., Madruga C.R., Madureira R.C., Massard C.L. & Fonseca A.H. 2000. [Seroprevalence of Babesia bovis in cattle in the "Norte Fluminense" mesoregion.] Soroprevalência de Babesia bovis em bovinos na mesorregião Norte Fluminense. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 20(2):75-79. Depto Parasitologia Animal, Univ. Fed. Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Km 47, Seropédica, RJ 23890-000, Brazil.
Serumprevalence of antibodies against Babesia bovis were studied by the indirect EnzymeLinked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Sera samples from 532 bovines of nine municipalities in the "Norte Fluminense" mesoregion, state of Rio de Janeiro, were analysed. The results showed that 484 (90.98%) were positive by indirect ELISA, ofwhich were: 20.30% with a titre of 1:500, 35.72% of 1:1000, 20.87% of 1:2000, 7.33% of 1:4000, 2.82% of 1:8000, 2.63% of 1 :16000, 0.56% of1 :32000, 0.75% of 1 :64000, and 9.02%were negative. The prevalence analysis was done within three age groups: 1 to 3 years (n= 110), 3 to 6 years (n= 241) and > 6 years (n = 181), of which 98.18%, 90.87% and 86. 7 4% were positive, respectively. There were significant ditferences (P < 0,05) between the 1 to 3 year-group and other age groups. The young animals are less susceptible to the disease than older animals. According to the breed, 91.44% of beef cattle (n= 444) and 88.64% of dairy cattle (n= 88) were positive. Regarding the sex, 90.54% of the females (n = 497) and 97 .14% of the males (n = 35) were positive. There were no significant ditferences between breeding types and the sexes (P > 0.05). There were significant ditferences (P < 0.0001) between the prevalence in the ditferent municipalities. The infection by B. bovis in this mesoregion is heterogeneous, although the seroprevalence showed that the region has to be considered enzootically stable. The epidemiological situation requires immunization only of animals coming from other areas. |
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