A serologic survey of B. canis infection in stray dogs captured in the vicinity of public parks and outskirt districts of São Paulo City, Brazil

Abstract

A total of 254 (7.5%) sera from 3386 stray dogs captured between the period of 1981 and 1985, through the reservoir control programme established by the Centro de Controle de Zoonoses, Secretaria de Higiene e Saúde do Municipio de São Paulo - SP, Brazil, coming from 14 localities of Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western areas of the city were found to be positive for Brucella canis antibodies by means of agar-gel precipitation test. Statistically significant differences were rot found among the number of reactors captured at different localities included in this survey. In view of the reactant animals for B. canis shown to be present among the stray dogs coming from four large divisions of the city, and due to the threat of this potential zoonotic agent, there is a need to strengthen the control measures of urban zoonosis, especially in the huge metropolitan area of São Paulo City.