Resumo

Several endemic diseases are present in Bahia’s goat and sheep population, and Caseous Lymphadenitis is one of the major Brazilian sheep industry concerns. It is a debilitating disease that causes weight loss, loss of leather commercial value and reduced lactation. CL treatment is not effective, besides being somewhat expensive and immunization would be a more cost-effective manner to control CL. The only available tool to combat the spread of CL is the continuous monitoring of the serological status of the animals, through the detection of innate and acquired immune specific markers, combined with management techniques to prevent infection. The present study aimed to determine the serological status of sheep with high genetic and commercial value from Bahia state for the presence of anti-C. pseudotuberculosis antibodies, and correlate the serological status with management practices reported by farmers. Sera samples were tested by an indirect ELISA, characterized by 98.5% specificity and 93.5% sensitivity, with the objective to identify the presence of C. pseudotuberculosis specific antibodies A questionnaire was given to farm owners in order to obtain data about the breeding systems. A real prevalence of C. pseudotuberculosis seropositive sheep of 22.1% was obtained. No statistically significant difference of seropositivity between different breeds and sex were found, but results pointed to a possible statistically significant higher seropositivity between age groups (p < 0.001). The information obtained through the questionnaires showed that procedures such as: semi-intensive breeding, irrigation and pasture rest, balanced feed supplementation, segregation of animals by age, anaerobic management of faeces and cremation of dead animals had a significant correlation with a lower seropositivity. It can be concluded that animals with high genetic value from Bahia state present a high prevalence of anti-C. pseudotuberculosis antibodies, and several breeding procedures can be adopted by sheep producers with the objective to reduce the infection by this bacteria.