Prevalence and possible risk factors for caprine paratuberculosis in intensive dairy production units in Guanajuato, Mexico

In order to determine the prevalence of caprine paratuberculosis and the possible risk factors associated a cross-sectional epidemiological study (February to June, 2009) was carried out in dairy goat intensive production units in Guanajuto, Mexico. Blood (n=821) and fecal (n=240) were sampled from goats (older than one year of age) were randomly selected from thirteen dairy goat intensive production units. Serum samples were analyzed using immunodiffusion serological test (AGIT) and fecal samples were used for confirmatory diagnosis by IS 900 Nested PCR. Analysis of results was carried out with STATA 7® software. Paratuberculosis prevalence in the studied population was 9.87% (range 1 to 32%), females had 10.25% and male 6.24%; for body condition were 14.02% emaciated, 7.94% thin and 8.7% good. By Nested PCR analysis detected 64 (26.67%) fecal samples as positive. Risk factor analysis indicated that alpine breed had a OR=2.1 (95%, CI 0.76 to 7.65), females in theirs second parturition showed OR= 2.94 (95%,CI 1.04 to 8.3), from three to fifth parturition had OR= 5.88 (95%, CI 4.3 to14.7) and with more than six parturitions had an OR=7 (95%, CI 2.79 to 18.21)., Animals that presented pasty to liquid feces had OR=2.10 (95%, CI 0.84 to5.25). The results in this study suggest that there is an increased risk for paratuberculosis as the number of parturitions increases and is also related to the consistency and handling of feces in the flocks.