Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Leptospirosis as the most frequent infectious disease impairing productivity in small ruminants in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

  • Original Research
  • Published:
Tropical Animal Health and Production Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Despite the importance of small ruminants breeding in developing countries, milk/meat productivity remains unsatisfactory. Infectious diseases, such as leptospirosis, brucellosis, and small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs), contribute to this scenario. The objective of the present study was to determine the role of each of these diseases in the productivity of small ruminants breeding in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In goats, 343 samples were tested for leptospirosis, 560 for Brucella abortus, and 506 for caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE), whereas in sheep, 308 samples were tested for leptospirosis, 319 for B. abortus, 374 for Brucella ovis, and 278 for Maedi-Visna (MV). Regarding leptospirosis, 25.9% of goats and 47.4% sheep were seroreactive, with serovar Hardjo the most prevalent in both species. Anti-B. abortus agglutinins were found in 0.7% of all samples, exclusively in goats. In relation to SRLVs, 8.6% of goats and 3.2% of sheep samples were positive for CAE and MV, respectively. Leptospirosis was the major infectious problem in the small ruminants sampled and may contribute to impaired productivity of these animals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adler, B. and de la Peña Moctezuma, A., 2010. Leptospira and leptospirosis. Veterinary Microbiology, 140, 287–96.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alves, C. J., Figueiredo, S. M., Azevedo, S. S., Clementino, I. J., Keid, L. B., Vasconcellos, S. A., Batista, C. S. A., Rocha, V. C. M. and Higino, S. S., 2010. Detection of Brucella ovis in ovine from Paraíba State, in the Northeast region of Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, 41, 365–367.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bandeira, D. A., De Castro, R. S., Azevedo, E. O., De Souza Seixas Melo, L. and De Melo, C. B., 2009. Seroprevalence of caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus in goats in the Cariri region, Paraiba state, Brazil. The Veterinary Journal, 180, 399–401.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bekele, M., Mohammed, H., Tefera, M. and Tolosa, T., 2011. Small ruminant brucellosis and community perception in Jijiga District, Somali Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 43, 893–898.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brasil, 2004. Regulamento Técnico do Programa Nacional de Controle e Erradicação da Brucelose e Tuberculose Animal do Ministério da Agricultura Pecuária e do Abastecimento. http://extranet.agricultura.gov.br/sislegis-consulta/servlet/VisualizarAnexo?id=3294.

  • de Andrés, D., Klein, D., Watt, N. J., Berriatua, E., Torsteinsdottir, S., Blacklaws, B. A. and Harkiss, G. D., 2005. Diagnostic tests for small ruminant lentiviruses. Veterinary Microbiology, 107, 49–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Desvars, A., Cardinale, E. and Michault, A., 2011. Animal leptospirosis in small tropical areas. Epidemiology and Infection, 139, 167–188.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • FAO, 2010. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: FAOSTAT Database. http://faostat.fao.org.

  • IBGE, 2008. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística: Sistema IBGE de Recuperação Automática. http://www.sidra.ibge.gov.br.

  • Jackson, R., Ward, D., Kennard, R., Amirbekov, M., Stack, J., Amanfu, W., El-Idrissi, A. and Otto, H., 2007. Survey of the seroprevalence of brucellosis in ruminants in Tajikistan. Veterinary Record, 161, 476–482.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kosgey, I. S. and Okeyo, A. M., 2007. Genetic improvement of small ruminants in low-input, smallholder production systems: Technical and infrastructural issues. Small Ruminant Research, 70, 76–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krawczyk, M., 2005. Serological evidence of leptospirosis in animals in northern Poland. Veterinary Record, 156, 88–89.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leitner, G., Krifucks, O., Weisblit, L., Lavi, Y., Bernstein, S. and Merin, U., 2010. The effect of caprine arthritis encephalitis virus infection on production in goats. The Veterinary Journal, 183, 328–31.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leon-Vizcaino, L., Mendoza, M. H. and Garrido, F., 1987. Incidence of abortions caused by leptospirosis in sheep and goats in Spain. Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 10, 149–153.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lilenbaum, W., Souza, G. N., Ristow, P., Moreira, M. C., Fraguas, S., Cardoso, V. S. and Oelemann, W. M. R., 2007. A serological study on Brucella abortus, caprine arthritis–encephalitis virus and Leptospira in dairy goats in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Veterinary Journal, 173, 408–412.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lilenbaum, W., Varges, R., Ristow, P., Cortez, A., Souza, S. O., Richtzenhain, L. J. and Vasconcellos, S. A., 2009. Identification of Leptospira spp. carriers among seroreactive goats and sheep by polymerase chain reaction. Research in Veterinary Science, 87, 16–19.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lima, C. B., Varges, R., Bacila, V. J. and Lilenbaum, W., 2007. Seroepidemiological survey of brucellosis in sheep from the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Online Journal of Veterinary Research, 11, 45–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lombardi, A. L., Nogueira, A. H. C., Feres, F. C., Paulo, H. P., Castro, R. S., Feitosa, F. L. F., Cadioli, F. A., Peiró, J. R., Perri, S. H. V., Lima, V. F. M. and Mendes, L. C. N., 2009. Occurrence of Maedi-visna in sheep from Araçatuba region - SP - Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Veterinary and Animal Science, 61, 1434–1437.

    Google Scholar 

  • López, G., Escobar, G. I., Ayala, S. M. and Lucero, N. E., 2006. Detection of antibodies to Brucella ovis in sheep milk using B. ovis and B. canis antigen. Veterinary Microbiology, 116, 232–238.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McDermott, J. J. and Arimi, S. M., 2002. Brucellosis in sub-Saharan Africa: epidemiology, control and impact. Veterinary Microbiology, 90, 111–134.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Melo, L. S. S., Castro, M. B., Leite, R. C., Moreira, E. C. and Melo, C. B., 2010. Main aspects of Leptospira sp infection in sheep. Ciência Rural, 40, 1235–1241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • OIE, 2008. Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals, World Organisation for Animal Health, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira, M. M. M., Castro, R. S., Carneiro, K. L., Nascimento, S. A., Callado, A. K. C., Alencar, C. S. A., Costa, L. S. P., 2006. Small ruminant lentivirus infection in goats and sheep from two abattoirs in Pernambuco State, Brazil. Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, 58, 947–949.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ozdemir, V. and Erol, E., 2002. Leptospirosis in Turkey. Veterinary Record, 150, 248–249.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ploumi, K., Christodoulou, V., Vainas, E., Lymberopoulos, A., Xioufis, A., Giouzeljiannis, A., Paschaleri, E. and Ap Dewi, I., 2001. Effect of maedi-visna virus infection on milk production in dairy sheep in Greece. Veterinary Record, 149, 526–527.

  • Poester, F. P., Gonçalves, V. S. and Lage, A. P., 2002. Brucellosis in Brazil. Veterinary Microbiology, 90, 55–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rahman, M. S., Han, J. C., Park, J., Lee, J. H., Eo, S. K. and Chae, J. S., 2006. Prevalence of brucellosis and its association with reproductive problems in cows in Bangladesh. Veterinary Record, 159, 180–182.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reina, R., Berriatua, E., Luján, L., Juste, R., Sánchez, A., De Andrés, D. and Amorena, B., 2009. Prevention strategies against small ruminant lentiviruses: an update. The Veterinary Journal, 182, 31–37.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Samartino, L. E., 2002. Brucellosis in Argentina. Veterinary Microbiology, 90, 71–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Seixas, L. S., de Melo, C. B., Leite, R. C., Moreira, E. C., McManus, C. M. and de Castro, M. B., 2011. Anti-Leptospira sp. agglutinins in ewes in the Federal District, Brazil. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 43, 9–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silva, E. F., Brod, C. S., Cerqueira, G. M., Bourscheidt, D., Seyffert, N., Queiroz, A., Santos, C. S., Ko, A. I. and Dellagostin, O. A., 2007. Isolation of Leptospira noguchii from sheep. Veterinary Microbiology, 121, 144–149.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spicić, S., Zdelar-Tuk, M., Racić, I., Duvnjak, S. and Cvetnić, Z., 2010. Serological, bacteriological, and molecular diagnosis of brucellosis in domestic animals in Croatia. Croatian Medical Journal, 51, 320–326.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Suepaul, S. M., Carrington, C. V., Campbell, M., Borde, G. and Adesiyun, A. A., 2011. Seroepidemiology of leptospirosis in livestock in Trinidad. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 43, 367–375.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sunder, J., Rai, R. B., Kundu, A., Chatterjee, R. N., Senani, S. and Jeyakumar, S., 2005. Incidence and prevalence of livestock diseases of Andaman and Nicobar islands. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 75, 1041–1043.

    Google Scholar 

  • Synge, B. A. and Ritchie, C. M., 2010. Elimination of small ruminant lentivirus infection from sheep flocks and goat herds aided by health schemes in Great Britain. Veterinary Record, 167, 739–743.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yilmaz, H., Gurel, A., Turan, N., Bilal, T., Kuscu, B., Dawson, M. M. and Morgan, K. L., 2002. Abattoir study of maedi-visna virus infection in Turkey. Veterinary Record, 151, 358–360.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful for critical reviews and suggestions by Prof. Dr. John Kastelic. WL is a CNPq fellow, and this study was supported by FAPERJ (E-26/111.563/2008) and CNPq.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Veterinary Bacteriology Laboratory, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, 24210-130, Brazil

    Gabriel Martins, Bruno Penna, Camila Hamond, Rachel Cosendey-Kezen Leite & Walter Lilenbaum

  2. Department of Clinical Pathology and Reproduction, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, 24230-340, Brazil

    Andressa Silva, Ana Ferreira & Felipe Brandão

  3. Animal Sanity Laboratory/CCTA, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, 28013-600, Brazil

    Francisco Oliveira

Authors
  1. Gabriel Martins
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bruno Penna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Camila Hamond
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Rachel Cosendey-Kezen Leite
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Andressa Silva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Ana Ferreira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Felipe Brandão
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Francisco Oliveira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Walter Lilenbaum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Walter Lilenbaum.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Martins, G., Penna, B., Hamond, C. et al. Leptospirosis as the most frequent infectious disease impairing productivity in small ruminants in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Trop Anim Health Prod 44, 773–777 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-011-9964-4

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-011-9964-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation