PREVALÊNCIA E FATORES DE RISCO PARA BRUCELOSE NO TOCANTINS E O PROGRAMA NACIONAL BRASILEIRO DE COMBATE À DOENÇA.

In 2010 1,818 sera obtained from cows with 24 or more months of age were analyzed. These animals were distributed over 102 herds in 16 of the 17 Araguaina micro-region municipalities, in the State of Tocantins. Immunoglobulins against Brucella abortus were investigated. The farmers or farm holders responded a questionnaire on risk factors for brucellosis. Positive sera to the Rose Bengal Test (RBT) were examined by 2-Mercaptoethanol test (2-ME). The prevalence in herds and animals was 43.5% (42.3 to 44.8%) and 6.2% (6.1 to 6.2%), respectively. Except for a small region in the North of the studied area, the herd prevalence observed in this study was higher (p <0.05) than that found seven years before in all other regions of the State. There was no difference in the prevalence of disease in vaccinated and unvaccinated cows (OR=1.52; [0.73 to 3.54]). Efforts to eliminate the sources of infection from herds and health management practices are needed. More consistent standards for performing and monitoring vaccination and control of animal movement are also needed. State programs to fight brucellosis, respecting regional differences, should be encouraged.