EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON PARATUBERCULOSIS IN SMALL RUMINANTS IN PORTUGAL*

SUMMARY: Preliminary results of a serological survey on paratuberculosis in 66 sheep and goat flocks in the area of Lisbon, Portugal, identified 27 % of flocks with seropositive animals. The follow-up on six of these flocks showed from one to nine percent of positive animals per flock. A higher probability of occurrence of seropositive animals was identified in the goats than with the sheep flocks. A higher proportion of positives also occurred in the milk producing when compared with the meat producing flocks. Typical lesions of paratuberculosis were found in 6 animals with intestinal lesions from which Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis had been isolated. The adjustment of the methodology for future use in the project and the implementation of adequate prevention and disease control measures are discussed by the authors taking in account the epidemiological risk factors identified in this study