Pestivirus Infection Does Not Affect Prevalence of Brucella melitensis and Encephalitozoon cuniculi in Small Ruminants of the State of Nuevo Leon, Mexico

Background: Members of the Pestivirus genus cause diseases associated with immunosuppression in cattle, which are involved in important economic losses.Similarly, Brucella melitensis is an intracellular bacterium of goats and sheep, whose infection significantly impacts on livestock production, whereas, Encephalitozoon cuniculi is an intracellular parasite of small ruminants, causing a subclinical disease, which worsens if they are immunosuppressed.In the present study, susceptibility to B. melitensis and E. cuniculi in small ruminants infected with Pestivirus was investigated.Methods: Two hundred goat serological samples were obtained in production units proportionally distributed in 4 rural development districts (RDD) in the state of Nuevo León, Mexico.For the serological identification of Pestivirus, B. melitensis, and E. cuniculi, ELISA, Rose Bengal test, and carbon immunoassay methods were respectively used.Results: Twenty five animals selected from each RDD were positive for Pestivirus.In addition, B. melitensis and E. cuniculi seroprevalence was 96% and 97.5%, respectively, regardless of Pestivirus infection.Conclusion: Pestivirus does not influence animals susceptibility to B. melitensis and E. cuniculi infection.In addition, B. melitensis and E. cuniculi prevalence in the state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico was demonstrated.