A serosurvey of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection of goats in the North of Portugal

To better understand the epizootiology of caprine paratuberculosis in the North of Portugal, a crosssectional study was conducted from 2014 to 2015. The seroprevalence and risk factors for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) seropositivity were evaluated. Antibodies against Map were determined by a commercial ELISA. In 936 sera tested from 56 goat herds, 120 (12.8%, 95% CI: 10.8– 15.1%) goats and 34 (60.7%, 95% CI: 47.6–72.4%) herds were positive. Risk factors for seropositivity were investigated by logistic regression models. The odds of Map seropositivity were found to be higher for animals with clinical signs, OR 5 5.1 (95% CI: 2.7–9.6%), animals belonging to herds with previous wasting disease, OR 5 2.3 (95% CI: 1.1–4.8%), and accumulation of manure in the herd, OR 5 3.1 (95% CI: 1.7–5.7%). The potential risk factors identified in this study support the current recommendations for the control of paratuberculosis in these and other animals.The authors thank the owners of the participating goat herds and the technicians and colleagues working at ACRIGAOPP (Associação de Criadores de Gado e Agricultores) for their co-operation and the assistance. Financial support for the study was provided by Interreg (EU) Spain-Portugal (POCTEP): 0441_ZOONOSIS_2_E.