Epidemiological Study of Mycobacterium bovis Infection in Buffalo and Cattle in Amazonas, Brazil

CARNEIRO, PAULO A. M.; TAKATANI, HARUO; PASQUATTI, TAYNARA N.; SILVA, CHRISTIAN B. D. G.; NORBY, BO; WILKINS, MELINDA J.; ZUMÁRRAGA, MARTÍN JOSÉ; ARAUJO, FLABIO R.; KANEENE, JOHN B.

Frontiers in Veterinary Science

FRONTIERS MEDIA S.A.

Año: 2019 vol. 6

Bovine Tuberculosis (BTB) is an endemic disease in about one hundred countries,affecting the economy causing a decrease in productivity, condemnation of meat, anddamaging the credibility on international trade. Additionally, Mycobacterium bovis themajor causative agent for BTB can also infect humans causing a variety of clinicalpresentations. The aim of this study was to determine BTB prevalence and the main riskfactors for theMycobacterium bovis prevalence in cattle and buffalos in Amazonas State,Brazil. Tissue samples from 151 animals (45 buffalo and 106 cattle from five herds withbuffalo only, 22 herds with cattle only, and 12 herds with buffalo and cattle) were obtainedfrom slaughterhouses under State Veterinary Inspection. M. bovis were isolated onStonebrink medium. The positive cultures were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) testing. The apparent herd and animal prevalence rates were 56.4 and 5.40%,respectively. Regarding animal species, the apparent prevalence rates were 3% in cattleand 11.8% in buffalo. Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMM) with random effect wereused to assess the association with risk factors on the prevalence. Species (buffalo),herds size (>100 animals) and the presence of both species (buffalo and cattle) in the herdwere the major risk factors for the infection by Mycobacterium bovis in the region. Thefindings reveal an urgent need for evidence-based effective intervention to reduce BTBprevalence in cattle and buffalo and prevent its spread to the human population. Studiesare needed to understand why buffalo are more likely to be infected by M. bovis thancattle in Amazon. Recommendations for zoning, use of data from the inspection servicesto generate information regarding BTB focus, adoption of epidemiological tools, anddiscouragement of practices that promote the mixing of cattle and buffalo, were made.