Prevalence of anti-pestivirus antibodies and risk factors in dairy goats from the semiarid region of Paraiba State, Northeastern Brazil

The aim of this survey was to determine the prevalence of anti-pestivirus antibodies in dairy goats from the semiarid region of the Paraiba state, Northeastern Brazil, as well as to identify risk factors associated with the flock-level prevalence. A total of 1,092 dairy goats from 110 flocks randomly selected in the county of Monteiro, Paraiba state, during March 2009 to March 2010, were used. In each selected flock a epidemiological questionnaire was applied to verify the occurrence of possible factors that could be associated with the flock-level prevalence. For the serological diagnosis of Pestivirus infection the serum neutralization test, using the BVDV-1 NADL strain, was carried out. Flock-level prevalence was 6.36% ( 95% CI = 2.60% - 12.67%) and animal-level prevalence was 0.82% (95% CI = 0.38% - 1.56%). Not to perform vermifugation (odds ratio = 10.49; p = 0.035) and to perform navel cut and disinfection (odds ratio = 12.73; p = 0.034) were identified as risk factors. These results indicate viral circulation in dairy goats in the semiarid region of the Paraiba state.