©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 18 (3): gmr18376 Detection of Brucella abortus DNA in the reproductive tract of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) cows H.D.M. Ayala 1 , E.M.M. Monteiro 2 , A.J.S. Souza 3 , S.T. Rolim Filho 4 , E.M. Barbosa 5 , W.G. Vale 4 , E. Silva Filho 4 and W.L.A. Pereira 4 1 Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, Brasil 2 Colegiado de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade da Amazônia, Belém, PA, Brasil 3 Instituto Evandro Chagas, Belém, PA, Brasil 4 Instituto da Saúde e Produção Animal, Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia, Belém, PA, Brasil 5 Departamento de Educação do Campo, Universidade Federal do Amapá, Mazagão, AP, Brasil Corresponding author: H.D.M. Ayala E-mail: manrique.henry@gmail.com Genet. Mol. Res. 18 (3): gmr18376 Received May 21, 2019 Accepted July 23, 2019 Published July 31, 2019 DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.4238/gmr18376 ABSTRACT. Brucella spp. are the pathogens responsible for brucellosis, which is a cosmopolitan and serious disease for animals and humans. Recent studies have revealed the presence of Brucella DNA in the reproductive tract tissues of buffaloes based on microbiological cultures collected from vaginal swabs. We tested for Brucella abortus DNA in the uterus, perivaginal lymph nodes, and uterine mucus of buffalo cows naturally infected with Brucella spp., as defined by a positive complement fixation test. Uterine tissue, uterine mucus, and perivaginal lymph node samples from 16 Brucella seropositive female buffaloes were analyzed. Brucella DNA was found in five of the uterine tissue samples, eight of the perivaginal lymph node samples, and 14 of the uterine mucus samples. Furthermore, Bayesian inference analysis indicated that the DNA sequences obtained from these tissues and mucus grouped with corresponding sequences of the B. abortus species.