Palpação retal como via de transmissão de trypano soma vivax em bovinos e a eficácia no uso de iodo na desinfecção de luvas

Abstract

Bovine trypanosomosis, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma vivax, is a disease with significant economic impact on livestock production, leading to reductions in milk and meat yields, as well as increased morbidity and mortality rates. In regions where the biological vector is absent, transmis sion primarily occurs through iatrogenic means, such as the reuse of syringes and needles. However, no prior studies had confirmed the possibility of T. vivax transmission through rectal palpation in cattle. This study aimed to assess this transmission route and the effectiveness of glove disinfection during the procedure. Four experiments were conducted with 103 cattle, divided into different groups, in which the transmission of the parasite was evaluated according to the blood contamination level of the glove. The results showed that reusing the same contaminated glove can infect two to five animals, depending on the amount of blood present. Disinfection with a 0.5% iodine solution reduced the transmission rate by 70-80%, whereas a 1% iodine solution completely eliminated trans mission. These findings highlight the importance of biosecurity measures to mitigate the spread of bovine trypanosomosis. It is recommended that, in situations where changing gloves between ani mals is impractical, disinfection with a 1% iodine solution should be adopted as a standard protocol to reduce sanitary risks.