Diagnóstico e fatores de risco associados ao vírus da leucose enzoótica bovina em rebanhos leiteiros no leste maranhense

Abstract

The Enzootic Bovine Leukosis (EBL) is an infectious disease which has a chronic evolution and affects mainly dairy cattle. The importance of the disease consists in economic losses due to infected bovine disposal, costs of the diagnosis and the treatment of complications and when the animals present lymphosarcomas. The research was conducted in order to determine the occurrence and frequency of Enzootic Bovine Leukosis (EBL) in cattle with dairy capability in Codo’s Regional. There were collected 398 samples from 33 herds in the following cities, Alto Alegre do Maranhao, Codo, Coroata, Peritoro e Timbiras. In order to make the proper diagnosis from the disease, there was used the immunodiffusion’s test from gel of agar – AGID, and applied questionnaires with owners or caretakers of animals to investigate risk factors associated with the disease. The frequency of infected animals was 117/396 (29.55%). The results observed in the frequency of leukosis herds were 31/33 (93.94%). There was no statistically significant association between the variables studied (P <0.05). The frequency distribution of risk factors showed that 100% of the interviewed were unaware about the studied disease, and 96.97% used the same needle for applying vaccine and deworming and the veterinary care was only present in 18.18% of the properties. The spatial distribution of herds - focus demonstrated that Leukosis is widespread in all cities surveyed. BLV infection is widespread in the region studied.