Abstract
The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence and regional spread of bovine tuberculosis in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, to identify herd-level risk factors, and to provide guidance for disease control and mitigation of its impact in public health. The study comprised a large-scale random sample survey of 22,990 animals and 1586 herds, distributed in seven regions. A questionnaire was applied on each farm to collect epidemiological and herd management data. Overall, 5.04 % of herds and 0.81 % of animals were positive for bovine tuberculosis. The highest herd prevalence was found in Alto Paranaíba, an expanding dairy region. The more technologically advanced dairy herds showed a prevalence ratio of 2.83 compared to others and are obvious candidates for risk-based surveillance and herd accreditation schemes. Small farms cannot be left out of disease control efforts because they are the vast majority of herds, albeit with lower individual risk. With regard to public health, there is widespread practice of producing homemade fresh cheese with raw milk and of slaughtering culled cows in places without sanitary inspection. This poses a risk to consumers and limits the efficacy of surveillance at slaughter.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the Institute for Genetic Sanitary Information for Brazilian Livestock (INCT). The field, logistic, and financial support of IMA should be acknowledged, notably the support provided by Dr. Altino Rodrigues Neto, as well as the support of FAPEMIG, who funded the work of Vitor Salvador Picão Gonçalves.
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The authors whose names are listed above certify that they have not committed a willful act of abuse or cruelty or neglect animal rights included on this study. Besides, all the procedures recommended by IOE to apply the diagnosis test were used as described in methodology.
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Belchior, A.P.C., Lopes, L.B., Gonçalves, V.S.P. et al. Prevalence and risk factors for bovine tuberculosis in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Trop Anim Health Prod 48, 373–378 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-015-0961-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-015-0961-x