Epidemiologic characterization of bovine tuberculosis in the State of Rondônia, Brazil

Abstract

A cross sectional study was performed between June 2009 and March 2010 to determine the situation of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in Rondônia. The state was divided into three regions and, in each of them, 300 farms with reproductive activity were randomly chosen and considered as primary sample units. In the selected farms, an epidemiologic questionnaire was applied. A fixed number of bovine females older than two years of age was randomly selected and tested through comparative cervical tuberculin test. Considering the State of Rondônia, the apparent prevalence of bTB positive farms was 2.3% (95% CI = 1.5-3.5%). The prevalence in the regions varied from 1.7% (95% CI = 0.7 - 4%) to 3% (95% CI = 1.6-5.7%). The apparent prevalence of bTB positive animals in the State of Rondônia was 0.12% (95% CI = 0.06-0.25%) and varied from 0.08% (95% CI = 0.04-0.18%) to 0.15% (95% CI = 0.07-0.33%) in the regions. The risk factor associated to tuberculosis in the State of Rondônia was the acquisition of animals (OR = 7.1; 95% CI = 1.6-31.1). The State of Rondônia should implement a surveillance system to detect bTB-infected herds to certify them as bTB-free. Moreover, an efficient health education program to inform farmers to test replacement animals for bTB prior to introduction in their herds should also be implemented.