The unexpected discovery of Brucella abortus Buck 19 vaccine in goats from Ecuador underlines the importance of biosecurity measures.
Very few, mostly old, and only preliminary serological studies of brucellosis in goats exist in Ecuador. In order to assess the current epidemiological situation, we performed a cross-sectional serological study in the goat populations of Carchi (n = 160 animals), Pichincha (n = 224 animals), and Loja provinces (n = 2024 animals). Only two positive serological results (RB negative and SAT-EDTA ≥400 IU/ml) were obtained in lactating goats from the same farm in Quito (Pichincha province). Additionally, milk was sampled from 220 animals in Pichincha province. The present study indicates a low apparent prevalence in Pichincha province and absence in Carchi and Loja provinces. A total of 25 positive milk ring tests (MRT) were obtained in Pichincha province yielding a prevalence of MRT of 11.16%. Subsequent culture was performed on the positive MRT samples. All results were negative, apart from a single sample, obtained from a serologically positive goat in Quito, that was positive for Brucella abortus strain 19 (B19). Several hypotheses are forwarded concerning this unexpected result. The most likely hypothesis is the possible accidental use of a needle, previously used for vaccination of cattle with the said vaccine, for the administration of drug treatment to the goat. This hypothesis underlines the necessity of biosecurity measures to prevent this type of accidents.
Instituto de Investigación en Salud Pública y Zoonosis (CIZ), Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador.|Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.|Research Unit of Epidemiology and Risk analysis applied to Veterinary Sciences (UREAR-ULg), Fundamental and Applied Research for Animal and Health (FARAH) Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, B42, Boulevard de Colonster 20, B-4000, Liège, Belgium.|Carrera de Ingeniería Agropecuaria, Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida y la Agricultura, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas (ESPE), Sangolquí, Ecuador.
Jorge
J
Ron-Román
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
Dirk
D
Berkvens
Instituto de Investigación en Salud Pública y Zoonosis (CIZ), Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador.
Daniela
D
Barzallo-Rivadeneira
Instituto de Investigación en Salud Pública y Zoonosis (CIZ), Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador.
Alexandra
A
Angulo-Cruz
Instituto de Investigación en Salud Pública y Zoonosis (CIZ), Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador.
Pablo
P
González-Andrade
Instituto de Investigación en Salud Pública y Zoonosis (CIZ), Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador.
Elizabeth
E
Minda-Aluisa
Instituto de Investigación en Salud Pública y Zoonosis (CIZ), Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador.|Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador.
Washington
W
Benítez-Ortíz
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
Jef
J
Brandt
Instituto de Investigación en Salud Pública y Zoonosis (CIZ), Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador.
Richar
R
Rodríguez-Hidalgo
Research Unit of Epidemiology and Risk analysis applied to Veterinary Sciences (UREAR-ULg), Fundamental and Applied Research for Animal and Health (FARAH) Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, B42, Boulevard de Colonster 20, B-4000, Liège, Belgium. claude.saegerman@ulg.ac.be.
Claude
C
Saegerman
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002003:Brucella abortus / Q000276:immunology*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004484:Ecuador / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005523:Food Supply; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006041:Goats; D007774:Lactation; D008892:Milk / Q000382:microbiology; D015995:Prevalence
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial
Biosecurity; Brucellosis; Ecuador; Goats; Vaccine