*3.1.3. Brucella suis*

The etiologic agent of brucellosis in pigs is the *Brucella suis*. The disease is characterized by high morbidity and reproductive disorders such as abortion, endometritis and placentitis in females and orchitis, changes of accessory glands, libido loss and infertility in male [34]. Abortion has been observed at 17 days after female cover with males which are positive for B. suis in semen. Infertility in animals is mainly due to the involvement of testicular struc‐ tures and lack of libido in the infected animals. The cases of contamination of the accessory glands are even more critical, since the animals remain fertile and can disseminate high loads of B. suis in semen during prolonged periods.

It is an extremely important disease for countries of the South America, Asia and Africa, where it is totally widespread. In the countries of North America and European Union, the prevalence is low or the disease has been eradicated [19]. The main route for elimination of brucellosis in farms is the genital arising from a positive male which eliminates the microor‐ ganism in the semen. Bacteria reach the reproductive organs after invasion of the lymph no‐ des followed by bacteremia [35]. In male, the infection may persist throughout life. Thus, it is necessary to eliminate the positive animals to prevent the dissemination of the disease.

In the case of positive farms, the control procedures should be performed. Among them, the sanitary break after the elimination of the positive animals and the monitoring of the repro‐ ducers' serological profile has proved to be effective for elimination of the agent of the herd. Although, nowadays, the sanitary conditions in commercial farms and the agility of the de‐ finitive diagnosis have evolved considerably, some pathogens have generated insignificant infection levels, such as the case of *B. suis*.

*3.2.1. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)*

the viremia and in presence of the neutralizing antibodies [43].

pathologies being an indication for infection with PRRSV.

ly through transit of the infected animals.

virus is detected [46-48].

in ADV-positive animals.

*3.2.2. Aujeszky diseases virus (ADV)*

and nervous and serious reproductive disorders [50].

antigenic markers from those ones infected with the field virus [53].

The PRRS is a disease characterized by reproductive failures and respiratory diseases caused by PRRS virus. After infection, the virus elimination period can last up to three months [12] which enables the virus to disseminate regionally, nationally and international‐

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During this period, the discharge can occur by several routes, as the semen being among the principal ones, what results into infection of the female and reproduction failures. In the body, the virus multiplies in macrophages and establishes the first viremia and can reach various organs and systems, as including the reproductive tract. In female, it crosses the pla‐ cental barrier and results into miscarriages and birth of weak piglets, which will be dissemi‐ nators of the virus in herd [42]. The virus can be eliminated in the semen even in absence of

The changes in the semen contaminated with PRRSV present individual characteristics, with substantial quality loss through reduced motility, increased percentage of abnormal acro‐ somes and increase of the spermatozoids with altered morphology [44] as those spermatic

Complementing the clinical signs and spermatic changes, the serological techniques are ef‐ fective for definitive diagnosis. However, those techniques indicate exposure to the agent without the guarantee of the presence of infection and the vaccinated animals have higher levels of antibodies, what may lead to false-positive results [45]. The viral isolation, RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry techniques are employed for the diagnosis of PRRS in which the

To control the disease, the commercial vaccines are effective in reducing the viral load from the infected animals [49]. In countries where there are no reports of the disease, the monitor‐

The ADV is the target of numerous control and eradication programs, and many of those programs have already achieved success and the aujeszky-free status. The ADV is the causa‐ tive agent of the Aujeszky disease (AD), that is characterized by clinical respiratory signs

The ADV had been isolated from prepuce and detected in the semen of the reproducers [51]. In 1984, [52] carried out a study with experimental infections. They observed that testicular degeneration and decreased semen quality due to fever of the infected animals are frequent

The DA suspicion is raised by symptoms, but laboratory tests are necessary for the defini‐ tive diagnosis, since the virus can be detected in tissues or secretions of the animals through virological diagnosis. Serologic tests can be used, and ELISA is the most indicated because it can differentiate the antibodies proceeding from the immune response of the vaccines with

ing programs of the entry of animals and semen should be well established and rigid.

The definitive diagnosis is accomplished through isolation of the agent. Although very spe‐ cific, it is complex and expensive, as requiring efficient and alternative methods. Serology can be used but must be associated with confirmatory tests such as rivanol, 2-mercaptoetha‐ nol and complement fixation. Another possibility is the molecular diagnosis by PCR [36].
