Following the detection of a positive case of caprine brucellosis in the department of Lavalle, Mendoza province, the National Agri-Food Health and Quality Service (SENASA) initiated a surveillance and immunization plan in all premises in the region, with the aim of safeguarding the health status of the herds and public health.
The operation was carried out jointly by the SENASA Cuyo Regional Center, the Directorate of Livestock of the Government of Mendoza, the Municipality of Lavalle, and the COPROSAMEN Foundation, after an initial meeting with the residents of the department, who were previously informed of the sanitary actions that would be implemented in the territory.
Thus, from April to date, active surveillance was carried out through visits and serological sampling in more than 900 adult goats and yearlings from 22 goat farms located in Lavalle. The samples were sent to the COPROSAMEN Foundation, which was responsible for performing the diagnostic analyses and determining the prevalence of the disease.
This surveillance was implemented with the aim of assessing the health situation in areas where the disease has historically been present, considering that mass and systematic vaccination of goat herds in the Province was discontinued in 2020.
For the prevention and control of the disease, SENASA personnel and all the organizations involved in the operation carried out the anti-brucellosis vaccination of approximately 24,000 animals in about 320 establishments, with doses provided by the national health agency. It is expected to complete immunization in the remaining 30 farms in the coming weeks.
These actions are essential for the protection of public health in the region and to guarantee food safety, as it is a zoonotic disease that can be transmitted to people through direct contact with sick animals and the consumption of unpasteurized milk and/or dairy products.
Characteristics of the disease
Caprine brucellosis is a disease caused by the bacterium Brucella melitensis, which causes abortions in the last third of gestation, placental retention, birth of weak kids, and perinatal death.
The disease usually enters an establishment through infected animals that did not undergo sanitary control. Infected goats eliminate millions of bacteria in their excretions and milk, contaminating the environment (water and soil of corrals and the vicinity of the farms). This represents a high risk for both healthy animals living with them, who can become infected through the environment or milk, and for people, exposed through work in corrals, assistance during parturition, and consumption of unpasteurized milk.
As it is a zoonosis, an infected person can develop continuous or intermittent fever, muscle fatigue, and joint and generalized pain. Symptoms can last between two or three weeks and even extend for several months, and the disease can become chronic.
For this reason, those who perform tasks in the corrals—due to their high exposure to the bacteria—must use personal protective equipment and avoid contact with sick animals. Disposable implements must be properly disposed of to prevent other animals (such as dogs or scavengers) from accessing them. It is also advisable to periodically remove manure from the corrals and disinfect the facilities.
Furthermore, as it is a foodborne illness (FBI), it is recommended that those who produce products pasteurize milk before processing. Likewise, it is advisable to avoid consuming food of unknown origin and to verify that it has a label with the details of the producing establishment.
