Molecular detection of Mycobacterium bovis in cattle herds of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil

• Published in: BMC veterinary research Vol. 12; no. 32; p. 31
• Main Authors: Cezar, Renata Duarte da Silva, Lucena-Silva, Norma, Filho, Antônio Fernando Barbosa Batista, Borges, Jonas de Melo, de Oliveira, Pollyane Raysa Fernandes, Lúcio, Érica Chaves, Arruda-Lima, Maíra, Santana, Vania Lucia de Assis, Pinheiro Junior, José Wilton
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 20-02-2016; BioMed Central
• Subjects: Animals; Brazil; Cattle; DNA, Bacterial - isolation & purification; Female; Genetic aspects; Genotype; Host-bacteria relationships; Identification and classification; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Milk - microbiology; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques - veterinary; Mycobacterium bovis; Mycobacterium bovis - genetics; Mycobacterium bovis - isolation & purification; Physiological aspects; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary; Tuberculosis, Bovine - blood; Tuberculosis, Bovine - microbiology; Brazil
• ISSN: 1746-6148; 1746-6148
• DOI: 10.1186/s12917-016-0656-1

The present study aimed to direct detect Mycobacterium bovis in milk (n = 401) and blood (n = 401) samples collected from 401 dairy cows of 20 properties located in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) targeting the region of difference 4 (RD4). Risk factors possibly associated with bovine tuberculosis (BTB) were also evaluated.
Of the 802 samples analyzed, one milk (0.25%) and eight blood (2%) samples were positive for M. bovis in the qPCR and their identities were confirmed by sequencing. Animals positive for M. bovis were found in six (30%) of the 20 properties visited. None of the risk factors evaluated were statistically associated with BTB.
M. bovis DNA was detected in one milk sample what may pose a risk to public health because raw milk is commonly consumed in Brazil.