A sero-epidemiological survey was conducted to determine the prevalence and distribution of Brucella ovis infection in rams in the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. The risk factors for the infection were also verified. Serum samples from 498 rams, 8 months of age or older, of 283 sheep herds in the Sertão Paraibano and Borborema mesoregions were investigated. All sera were examined by AGID test (screening test) and CFT (confirmatory test). From the total of examined herds, 8.59% (95% CI = 5.83%-12.48%) were seropositive for Brucella ovis. The prevalence of seropositive rams was 5.57% (95% CI = 3.86%-7.97%). The seropositivity was lower in herds where cleanliness was frequently made (p< 0.05).
Brucellosis; Brucella ovis; rams; prevalence
