Investigation on Brucellosis in cattle and human consumers of milk

Abstract

The use of "in natura" milk by some communities became a serious problem in Public Health. A revision on the Brucellosis situation in bovine herds in the county of Ribeirão Preto was understaken. From the detection of Brucellic milk producer bovine herd, the human consumers of the suspected milk were investigated according to some characteristics, such as: sex, colour, occupation, marital status, time residence in the area, time of use of the suspected milk, kind of ingested milk, average amount of daily milk ingestion, health conditions, use of drugs and referred morbidity at the time of the study. Serological diagnostic tests for Brucellosis in the milk producer bovine herd and in the milk were also performed. It could be stressed that about 8 per cent of the cows in lactation by the time of the survey were Brucellic. Among the consumers no positive serological test were found for Brucellosis. Is was concluded that: despite the importance of Brucellosis as a zoonosis, it persists endemic in our breeding environment; the boiling of the milk is an efficient measure. It should be recommended in areas where "in natura" milk is consumed.