Influência do teste Elisa sobre o diagnóstico de Mormo

Abstract

Glanders is an infectious-contagious zoonosis caused by the bacterium Burkholderia mallei, which mainly affects mules and donkeys in the acute phase and horses in the chronic phase, and can occasionally affect small ruminants, felids and, accidentally, humans. This study aimed to analyze the influence of the ELISA test on the increase in positive cases of Glanders in horses in Brazil and Maranhão. The research used data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) and the State Agency for Agricultural Defense of Maranhão (AGED). The results indicated a linear growth in the number of glanders cases in Brazil, with 29 cases in 2018, 74 in 2019, 287 in 2020, 207 in 2021, 221 in 2022, and 231 in 2023. During the years 2020 to 2023, in Maranhão, 438 animals were reactive by the ELISA test. In 2020, all mesoregions in Maranhão, with the exception of the southern mesoregion, had confirmed cases. In the following years, there was an expansion of cases to all five mesoregions of the state, with emphasis on the northern region of the state. In 2023, the number of confirmed cases reached 122, equivalent to the sum of the previous three years. It should be noted that, of these 122, 43 were confirmed only by the ELISA test, as they occurred between the months of August and December 2023, a period in which the Western Blotting (WB) confirmatory test was not required to be performed, through MAPA Ordinance 593/2023. The study highlights the greater sensitivity of ELISA compared to the Complement Fixation Test (TFC), especially in the identification of chronic cases, and reinforces the need for effective epidemiological control measures, such as biosafety practices and greater awareness of breeders. An educational booklet was developed to disseminate information about glanders and its prevention. It is concluded that Maranhão remains endemic for glanders, and it is essential to strengthen diagnostic and control strategies to mitigate the spread of the disease