Equine infectious anemia in the western region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil/Anemia infecciosa equina na regiao oeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

This study aimed to characterize the outbreaks of equine infectious anemia (EIA) identified, between the years 2009 and 2015, in the western region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. We identified 26 positive horses on 24 properties. Each positive property was considered an outbreak of the disease. The diagnoses were made using the agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test as a part of the sanitary checks conducted during animal transportation or certification of the horse's sanitary status. The positive properties included farms or horse barns, and the infected animals were used for ranch work, sports, or reproduction. One outbreak was identified in animals that were being illegally transported from Argentina to Brazil. Fifteen outbreaks occurred on properties that were not registered with the Official Veterinary Service (OVS). Eleven outbreaks were identified in urban areas and 13 in rural areas. Twelve of the 24 outbreaks were diagnosed in 2015 alone, nine of which occurred in Sao Borja county. On two properties, a diagnosis could not be confirmed with a retest; therefore, these outbreaks were discharged. During sanitation checks on three properties, 12 additional positive animals were identified among a population of 1,108 susceptible animals. Based on these findings, we concluded that a subclinical form of the infection is present in that area, which is linked to properties that are not registered with the OVS, and that animals which are transported illegally across international borders represent a potential risk. Key words: transboundary disease, illegal transport, EIA, passive surveillance, virus. O objetivo do estudo foi caracterizar os focos de EIA identificados, entre 2009 e 2015, na regiao oeste do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Inicialmente foram identificados 26 equinos positivos em 24 propriedades, sendo que cada propriedade foi considerada um foco. Os diagnosticos foram realizados por imunodifusao em gel de agar (AGID) na ocasiao do transporte ou como medidas sanitarias, em casos de vinculo com animais infectados ou para fim de certificacao do status sanitario. Um foco foi identificado em animais transportados ilegalmente da Argentina para o Brasil. Os estabelecimentos positivos eram fazendas ou estabulos e os animais infectados utilizados para trabalho, esporte ou reproducao. Quinze focos ocorreram em propriedades nao cadastradas no SVO. Onze focos localizaram-se na zona urbana e 13 em propriedades rurais. Somente no ano de 2015 f