The aim of this research was to determine the frequency of antibodies against smooth Brucella in swine slaughtered in the semiarid region of the state of Paraíba, Brazil. Three hundred and six serum samples from swine slaughtered in the public slaughterhouse of the city of Patos were used. For the detection of antibodies against smooth Brucella, the Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT) was applied as a screening method and the 2-mercaptoethanol test as a confirmatory method. Of the 306 swine tested, 3 (0.98%; 95% CI = 0.20% - 2.84%) were positive for antibodies against smooth Brucella at RBPT, and 2 (0.65%; 95% CI = 0.08% - 2.34%) were confirmed in the 2-mercaptoethanol; 1 animal presented titer 200 and 1 titer 25.
Animal brucellosis; antibodies; frequency; slaughter