Detecção de Brucella spp. em sangue, sêmen e swab vaginal de cães da região metropolitana de Cuiabá/MT

Abstract

Brucellosis is a zoonosis caused by the gram-negative bacterium Brucella spp, a chronic infectious-contagious disease that affects the animals’ reproductive system determining economic and health damage. The aim of this study was to diagnose Brucella spp in dogs from different biological samples (blood, semen and vaginal secretion). Dogs with variable age, weight and sex from Cuiabá and Várzea Grande/MT kennels were used. Survey of the reproductive history was done and the animals were submitted to the clinical evaluation. Andrological and gynecological examination was performed. To perform polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique blood was collected in all animals (n=35); semen in males (n=9) and vaginal swab in females (n=24). The total females analyzed, 15 (62.5%) were of external origin to the kennel, 17 (70.85%) had confirmed maternity, 8 (33.3%) were positive on Brucellla spp PCR in blood and 10 (41.7%) in vaginal swab. Twoo females presented clinical symptoms: Female 1 (F1) abortion (60 days gestation) and Female 2 (F2) infertility. The total males evaluated (n=11), 7 (63.6%) were of external origin and 8 (72.7%) had confirmed paternity. Semen collection was performed in 9 animals, 4 (44.44%) were positive in blood and 2 (18.2%) in semen. Three (33.3%) males presented clinical signs: Male 3 (M3) difficulty in copulation due to a locomotor problem and therefore was castrated, Male 7 (M7), ocular infection and Male 10 (M10) infertility. The andrological part was also shown to be negatively impacted. Positive animals in semen and/or blood Brucella spp. PCR showed lower motility, vigor, concentration, membrane integrity and acrosome. Secondary defects showed greater impact on positive animals ranging from 20% to 38%, being distal drop, proximal drop,and broken tail with drop. We concluded that it was possible to diagnose Brucella spp. in males and females by PCR in the different biological samples analyzed, indicating that PCR of vaginal swab is an effective test to identify Brucella spp. in females, however, in males the blood test is still the most indicated.