Serological detection of antibodies against smooth Brucella in wild cats from different Brazilian biomes.

Abstract

Wild animals are already known as potential hosts for various infectious agents, including the bacterium Brucella spp., which is an important zoonotic agent. This agent is widely found in mammals, including wild mammals, which can act as reservoirs of the bacterium and have an important connection with the occurrence of brucellosis in humans and domestic animals; however, little is known about the epidemiological relevance of felids in this scenario. The epidemiological link between wildlife and many diseases linked to livestock farming is recognized, and due to habitat loss associated with agricultural expansion and the illegal tourism activity of hunting, the proximity between domestic and wild animals is increasing, especially in regions of vast biodiversity. Recently, the control, eradication and prevention of brucellosis in free-living animals, domestic animals and humans has been studied with its complex eco-epidemiological aspects in order to maintain a functional ecosystem. Thus, this study aims to detect potential reservoirs of B. abortus and B. suis in free-living felids from fragments of the Pantanal and Cerrado biomes in the states of Mato Grosso do Sul, Bahia and Pará, using the serological tests recommended by the National Brucellosis and Tuberculosis Control and Eradication Program (PNCEBT).