RESUMO: O objetivo do presente estudo foi descrever a prevalência e os fatores associados à infecção por Brucellaspp. em equídeos de trabalho na região semiárida do Nordeste do Brasil. Amostras de sangue foram coletadas de 322 equídeos (76 equinos, 155 muares e 91 asininos). O teste de placa Rosa Bengala (RBPT) foi usado como método de triagem. As amostras que foram reativas no RBPT foram enviadas para confirmação usando 2-mercaptoetanol (2-ME) e o teste padrão de aglutinação em tubo (STAT). Ao todo, 7,1% (23/322) das amostras foram positivas segundo o RBPT. Após testes confirmatórios, a prevalência de brucelose foi de 6,5% (21/322). Destes casos, 33,3% (7/21) foram equinos, 42,8% (9/21) muares e 23,9% (5/21) asininos. Na análise multivariada, idade acima de 10 anos foi considerada fator associado à infecção (OR: 17,17; 95% CI: 2,582-164,7, P = 0.006) por Brucellas pp. A prevalência significativa de anticorpos anti-Brucella spp. encontrados em equídeos de trabalho e a ampla distribuição de animais positivos demonstra uma situação epidemiológica preocupante em relação à brucelose na região de estudo. A idade superior a 10 anos foi um fator de risco associado à infecção em animais. RESUMO Brucellaspp Brasil 32 76 (7 equinos 15 9 asininos . asininos) (RBPT triagem 2mercaptoetanol mercaptoetanol 2 2ME ME (2-ME STAT. STAT (STAT) todo 71 7 1 7,1 23/322 23322 23 (23/322 confirmatórios 65 6 5 6,5 21/322. 21322 21/322 21 (21/322) casos 333 33 3 33,3 7/21 721 (7/21 428 42 8 42,8 9/21 921 (9/21 239 23,9 5/21 521 (5/21 multivariada OR (OR 17,17 1717 17 95 CI 2,582164,7, 25821647 2,582 164,7, 582 164 2,582-164,7 0.006 0006 0 006 pp antiBrucella anti Brucella spp ( (STAT 7, 23/32 2332 (23/32 6, 2132 21/32 (21/322 33, 7/2 72 (7/2 4 42, 9/2 92 (9/2 23, 5/2 52 (5/2 17,1 171 582164 2,582164,7 2582164 2582 2,58 1647 164,7 58 16 2,582-164, 0.00 000 00 23/3 233 (23/3 213 21/3 (21/32 7/ (7/ 9/ (9/ 5/ (5/ 17, 58216 2,582164, 258216 258 2,5 164, 2,582-164 0.0 23/ (23/ 21/ (21/3 (9 (5 5821 2,582164 25821 25 2, 2,582-16 0. (23 (21/ 2,58216 2,582-1 (2 (21 2,5821 2,582-
ABSTRACT: The present study described the prevalence and factors associated with the seropositivity for anti-Brucella spp. antibodies in working equids in the semiarid regionofnortheastern Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 322 equids (76 horses, 155 mules and 91 donkeys). The Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT) was used as a screening method. Samples that were reactive in the RBPT were tested for confirmation using 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) and the standard tube agglutination test (STAT). Overall, 7.1% (23/322) of the samples were positive according to the RBPT. After confirmatory tests, the prevalence of brucellosis was found to be 6.5% (21/322). Among these cases, 33.3% (7/21) were horses, 42.8% (9/21) were mules and 23.9% (5/21) were donkeys. In the multivariate analysis, age over 10 years was considered to be a factor associated with the seropositivity (OR: 17.17; 95% CI: 2.582-164.7, P = 0.006) for anti-Brucella spp. antibodies. The significant prevalence of anti-Brucella spp. antibodies found in working equids and the wide distribution of positive animals demonstrates a worrying epidemiological situation regarding brucellosis in the study region. Age over 10 years was a risk factor associated with the seropositivity for anti-Brucella spp. antibodies in animals. ABSTRACT antiBrucella anti Brucella spp Brazil 32 76 (7 horses 15 9 donkeys . donkeys) (RBPT method 2mercaptoethanol mercaptoethanol 2 2ME ME (2-ME STAT. STAT (STAT) Overall 71 7 1 7.1 23/322 23322 23 (23/322 tests 65 6 5 6.5 21/322. 21322 21/322 21 (21/322) cases 333 33 3 33.3 7/21 721 (7/21 428 42 8 42.8 9/21 921 (9/21 239 23.9 5/21 521 (5/21 analysis OR (OR 17.17 1717 17 95 CI 2.582164.7, 25821647 2.582 164.7, 582 164 2.582-164.7 0.006 0006 0 006 region ( (STAT 7. 23/32 2332 (23/32 6. 2132 21/32 (21/322 33. 7/2 72 (7/2 4 42. 9/2 92 (9/2 23. 5/2 52 (5/2 17.1 171 582164 2.582164.7 2582164 2582 2.58 1647 164.7 58 16 2.582-164. 0.00 000 00 23/3 233 (23/3 213 21/3 (21/32 7/ (7/ 9/ (9/ 5/ (5/ 17. 58216 2.582164. 258216 258 2.5 164. 2.582-164 0.0 23/ (23/ 21/ (21/3 (9 (5 5821 2.582164 25821 25 2. 2.582-16 0. (23 (21/ 2.58216 2.582-1 (2 (21 2.5821 2.582-