The study aimed to determine the prevalence of brucellosis and its risk factors in the pig herd of Mossoró-RN. Comprised a cross-sectional quantitative approach and epidemiological study, where 412 blood samples of pigs from major producers in the municipality were collected and inspection of herds with interviews with producers were conducted. Antibodies to Brucella spp. were detected by the rose Bengal test (RBT) and confirmed by the complement fixation test (CFT). The prevalence of brucellosis in pigs was 27.0% in the RBT and 17.5% in the CFT. In 55% of the surveyed properties there was at least one positive animal, and these prevalence ranged from 6.7% to 80.0%. Risk factors that were influencing the occurrence of the disease were the presence of rats in the farms, contact with cattle and the young age of the animals. The study results showed that the causative agent of brucellosis was circulating in pigs in the municipality of Mossoró-RN, with high prevalence in the herd and on the properties, indicating the risk of transmission of this zoonosis to humans.
Swine health; epidemiology; prevalence; risk factors; Brucella suis; brucellosis
