USE OF SPOLIGOTYPING FOR GENETIC TYPING OF MYCOBACTERIUM BOVIS ISOLATES FROM SLAUGHTERED ANIMALS IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA OF SALVADOR, BAHIA, BRAZIL

ABSTRACT Tuberculosis is an infectious chronic disease that affects mammals and birds and constitutes a serious problem for public and animal health. Pulmonary and mediastinic lymph node lesions of 43 animals slaughtered in 3 slaughterhouses in the metropolitan region of the city of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, were analyzed with the objective of obtaining a molecular survey of the disease in bovines slaughtered in slaughterhouses in the state. Seven isolates ofMycobacterium bovis were identified through the spoligotyping technique and classified into 3 different spoligotypes (SB1055, SB0120, SB0268), described in Brazil and in many areas worldwide. The results indicate that the diagnostic method utilized may contribute to the creation of a database for the epidemiologic study of bovine tuberculosis in the state of Bahia.