Epidemiological aspects of conidiobolomycosis in sheep in the Northeastern Brazilian semiarid region/ Aspectos epidemiologicos da conidiobolomicose em ovinos na regiao semiarida do Nordeste do Brasil

• Published in: Ciência rural Vol. 44; no. 12; p. 2210
• Main Authors: de Aguiar, Gildeni Maria Nascimento, Simoes, Sara Vilar Dantas, Santos, Sergio Azevedo, Marques, Ana Luisa Alves, da Silva, Tatiane Rodrigues, Dantas, Antonio Flavio Medeiros, Riet-Correa, Franklin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria 01-12-2014
• Subjects: Analysis; Epidemiology; Ponds
• ISSN: 0103-8478
• DOI: 10.1590/0103-8478cr20131472

With the objective to determine the epidemiological aspects of conidiobolomycosis and rhinofacial pythiosis in sheep, a case-control study was conducted in 27 farms (16 cases and 11 controls) in the states of Paraiba and Rio Grande do Norte. In nine (56.3%) farms only one outbreak was observed and in seven, two outbreaks occurred, totaling 23 outbreaks. In 20 farms only cases of conidiobolomycosis occurred and in three farms cases of conidiobolomicosis occurred together with cases of pythiosis. In conidiobolomycosis, morbidity ranged from 0.7% to 73.3% and lethality rate was 100%. Thirteen outbreaks (56.3%) occurred in the rainy season (January to May), six (26.1%) in the dry season (June to December) and in four it was not informed. In all farms with cases, sheep had access to ponds for the whole year or for periods of 2-8 months. In the univariate analysis of risk, the variables associated with the occurrence of conidiobolomycosis were: animal grazing on the borders of the ponds; presence of vegetable matter consisting mainly of aquatic plants in the pond borders; period of grazing on the pond borders; high grazing pressure; and predominant breed of sheep, being the Santa Ines breed the most affected. It was concluded that the combination of factors such as continuous grazing in wetlands with decomposed vegetable matter and soil rich in organic matter exposes the animals to Conidiobolus spp. and predisposes to the occurrence of conidiobolomycosis. The establishment of pastures for cutting at the borders of the ponds can be an effective measure to control conidiobolomycosis. Key words: Conidiobolus spp., risk factors, sheep, entomophthoromycosis. Com o objetivo de determinar aspectos epidemiologicos da conidiobolomicose dos ovinos, foi realizado um estudo caso-controle em 27 propriedades (16 com casos e 11 controles) nos estados da Paraiba e do Rio Grande do Norte. Das 16 propriedades com casos, em nove (56,3%), ocorreu apenas um foco e em sete (43,8%) aconteceram dois, totalizando 23 focos no periodo do estudo. Em 20 focos, foi diagnosticada somente conidiobolomicose e, em tres, alem de casos de conidiobolomicose, ocorreram casos de pitiose rinofacial. Nos focos de conidiobolomicose, a morbidade variou de 0,7% a 73,3% e a letalidade foi de 100%. Treze focos (56,5%) aconteceram no periodo chuvoso (janeiro a maio), seis (26,1%) ocorreram no periodo seco (junho a dezembro) e, em quatro, nao foi determinada a epoca de ocorrencia. Em todas as propriedades com casos, os animais tinham acesso a acudes, durante todo o ano ou por periodos de 2-8 meses. Na analise univariada dos fatores de risco referentes aos focos de conidiobolomicose, as variaveis associadas foram: pastejo dos animais as margens dos acudes; periodo de pastejo as margens dos acudes; presenca de materia vegetal constituida por plantas aquaticas; pressao de pastejo; e raca, afetando predominantemente a raca Santa Ines. Conclui-se que a associacao de fatores como pastejo constante em areas umidas com materia vegetal decomposta e solo rico em materia organica expoe os animais a infeccao por Conidiobolus spp. e predispoe a ocorrencia de focos. A implantacao de pastagens para corte, nas margens dos acudes, pode ser uma medida eficaz de controle da conidiobolomicose. Palavras-chave: Conidiobolus spp., fatores de risco, ovinos, entomoftoromicose.