Seroepidemiological survey for Brucella ovis infection in sheep flocks of semi-arid region in Bahia State, Brazil.

In order to analyze the occurrence of antibodies to Brucella ovis in sheep of properties located in the microregion of Juazeiro, Bahia State, Brazil, a survey was conducted in sheep herds in the eight cities that make up the microregion (Juazeiro, Casa Nova, Remanso, Campo Alegre de Lourdes, Pilão Arcado, Sento Sé, Sobradinho and Curaçá). The agar gel immunodifusion test (AGID) was used to examine 694 serum samples of 58 herds. Antibodies to B. ovis were found in 5 (0.72%) of the investigated animals and five properties (8.62%) showed positive animals. It is believed the low number of positive sheep found in this survey is related to the production systems features. The microregion of Juazeiro is characterized by a semi-arid climate and the predominant system is the extensive one, with a presence of native, crossbred and mongrel animals, aiming at the production of meat and skin, with low productivity and technification.