This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of brucellosis caused by Brucella canis in dogs in Cuiabá, State of Mato Grosso, and possible risk factors associated during the period of 2007 to 2008. Three hundred twenty seven samples were analized based on simple random sampling, covering the 04(four) districts of the municipality. The occurrence of B. canis was 24.1% (95% CI: 19.7-29.0%). The statiscal analysis showed association of conjunctivitis and keratitis with the positivity of B. canis, with an odds ratio of 4.72(95% CI=1.30-17.76) and 0.0103 for Fisher's Exact, and 16.69(95% CI=1.86-385.55) and 0.0036 for Fisher's Exact, respectively. The results of this study demonstrate the occurrence of B. canis in this city of Cuiabá, and suggest and new research and monitoring and proposes a molecular diagnostics to B. canis, the PCR techinique.
brucellosis; PCR; Brucella canis; dogs; Cuiabá