Aspectos epidemiológicos da infecção por Neospora caninum em bovinos e cães no Estado de Alagoas, Brasil

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in cattle and dogs from the State of Alagoas, as well as to identify risk factors associated to the infection for both species. Samples from 1004 bovine proceeding from 17 dairy farms of the microregion of Batalha/Alagoas and 237 samples of dogs from urban and rural areas were studied. Samples were submitted to the Indirect Immunofluorescence test. Risk factors associated to the infection were identified by means of univariate and logistic regression for interest variables. For bovine, antibodies frequency was 7.67% and for dogs was 4.2%. Risk factors identified for bovine through the multivariate analysis were non-associated breeding (OR=6.33) and improper end of aborted fetuses (OR=3.04). None of the analyzed variables were identified as risk factors for the infection in this species. N. caninum infection is present in dogs and cattle in the State of Alagoas. Researches including other regions must be performed in order to demonstrate the factual importance of this infection in the scope of the supply chain of cattle breeding, allowing estimating the economic losses due to the presence of this agent in herds