Seroepidemiological characterization and risk factors associated with seroconversion to Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis in goats from Northeastern Brazil

Goat breeding in the Northeast region of Brazil plays an important socioeconomic role. However, there are significant losses caused by sanitary deficits and infectious diseases, particularly caseous lymphadenitis (CL). Although CL is considered endemic in Northeastern Brazil, a comprehensive and up-to-date study of this disease in goat herds in this region is necessary. The objective of this study was to determine the farm-level and animal-level seroprevalences for the disease and to identify the possible risk factors that characterize CL in the caprine species of five Northeastern’s states (Ceará, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, and Sergipe). A total of 2744 goat serum samples from 230 farms were collected between 2010 and 2012. The diagnosis of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection was performed using the indirect ELISA technique. Farm-level and animal-level seroprevalences were 87.8% and 30.3%, respectively, suggesting that C. pseudotuberculosis is widespread in goat herds of the Northeast region. The risk factors were as follows: absence of forage silage (odds ratio = 5.39), not separating animals by sex (odds ratio = 4.16) or by age (odds ratio = 6.30), not replacing old goat breeders (odds ratio = 7.80), and non-treatment of CL lumps prior to spontaneous rupture (odds ratio = 10.34). This study supports the idea that caseous lymphadenitis is widely disseminated in goats from Northeastern Brazil and based on the risk factor analysis attention should be given to the need to establish adequate control measures, such as incision and early drainage of superficial abscesses, quarantine and elimination of affected animals, periodic inspection of the herd, non-introduction of infected animals, and early disposal of animals with recurrent CL.