INCIDÊNCIA DE PNEUMONIA EM CONFINAMENTO NO SUDESTE DE GOIÁS

Abstract

Bovine pneumonia is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in feedlot systems, leading to significant economic losses for the beef industry. The disease is characterized as a multifactorial respiratory syndrome involving bacterial and viral pathogens, as well as management-related factors. This report aims to describe the main aspects related to the etiology, pathogenesis, predisposing factors, diagnosis, and control of a pneumonia outbreak in feedlot cattle. The study was conducted on a feedlot farm in Luziania, Goias, during the month of September. Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) was the primary condition observed and was associated with predisposing factors such as heat stress, transportation, environmental variations, and inadequate management. A total of 575 clinical cases were recorded, with pneumonia accounting for 457 of them, representing the most impactful health issue in the feedlot. BRD-related mortality reached 10 animals, mainly affecting cattle exposed to intense stress. Necropsy findings revealed fibrinous pneumonia and suppurative bronchopneumonia, consistent with typical forms of the disease. In addition to death losses, there was a decline in productive performance and an increase in clinical treatment costs. The total economic impact exceeded R$ 70,000 during the evaluated period. Thus, it was concluded that the complexity of the disease requires veterinarians to adopt a comprehensive approach involving early diagnosis, environmental control, and well-structured preventive interventions.