Comparison of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection in cattle, sheep and goats in the Khuzestan Province of Iran: Results of a preliminary survey.

Background: Paratuberculosis or Johne's disease, the chronic infectious granulomatous enteritis of ruminants, is a worldwide infection, which is caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). The most common symptoms of this disease in cattle are loss of milk production, weight loss and diarrhoea, whereas in sheep and goats, the symptoms are emaciation, anorexia and severe disability.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the seroprevalence of MAP in cattle, sheep and goats in the southwest of Iran.

Methods: Blood samples were randomly collected from 530 cattle, 568 sheep and 368 goats in southwest of Iran. Sera were tested by a commercial ELISA kit (ID vet; ID Screen® Paratuberculosis Indirect) for detection of antibodies of MAP.

Results: Overall apparent and true seroprevalence rate of MAP was 6.00% (95% CI: 4.90%-7.30%) and 13.25% (95% CI: 11.55%- 14.95%). Apparent and true seroprevalence of MAP, respectively, was 4.34% (95% CI: 3.88%-6.46%) and 9.19% (95% CI: 6.98%-11.98%) in cattle, 6.87% (95% CI: 5.05%-9.27%) and 15.37% (95% CI: 12.60%-16.60%) in sheep and 7.07% (95% CI: 4.82%-10.18%) and 15.86% (95% CI: 12.41%-20.01%) in goats, respectively. As a result, there was no significant relationship between animal species and MAP infection. Moreover, multivariate logistic regression showed that the infection rate is not associated with age, gender and geographical location in cattle, sheep and goats (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: This study confirms that the seroprevalence of MAP is relatively considerable in the cattle, sheep and goats in the southwest of Iran, although in cattle, it is less than goats and sheep. Therefore, preventive and control measures should be considered by animal health authorities and meat and dairy processing units.