Anti-Brucella spp. antibodies in working equids in a semiarid region of Northeastern Brazil

ABSTRACT: The present study described the prevalence and factors associated with seropositivity for anti-Brucella spp. antibodies in working equids semiarid regionofnortheastern Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 322 (76 horses, 155 mules 91 donkeys). Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT) was used as a screening method. Samples that reactive RBPT tested confirmation using 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) standard tube agglutination (STAT). Overall, 7.1% (23/322) of positive according to RBPT. After confirmatory tests, brucellosis found be 6.5% (21/322). Among these cases, 33.3% (7/21) 42.8% (9/21) 23.9% (5/21) donkeys. In multivariate analysis, age over 10 years considered factor (OR: 17.17; 95% CI: 2.582-164.7, P = 0.006) antibodies. significant wide distribution animals demonstrates worrying epidemiological situation regarding region. Age risk animals.