Risk factors associated with seroprevalence of paratuberculosis in mature goats in Northeastern Thailand

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors for the seroprevalence of paratuberculosis in mature goats
in Northeastern Thailand. The study area included Buriram, Chaiyaphum, Kalasin, Khon Kaen, Mahasarakham,
Nakhonratchasrima, Roi et, Sakon Nakhon, Srisaket, and Udonthani. The seroprevalence of paratuberculosis
determined in 37 herds, a total of 671 serum samples, was 12.82%. The risk factors related to paratuberculosis were
analyzed at individual level using mixed model logistic regression. At the individual level, 86 of 671 goats tested
positive based on an ELISA assay. Risk factors associated with the seroprevalence of MAP antibodies included age,
divided into six groups, sex, breed, and body condition score (BCS). In addition, when using goats younger than 1 year
old as a baseline, older goats were at higher risk than younger goats: 3 years old [(p < 0.05); OR = 5.48; 95% CI = 1.17-
25.64], 4 years old [(p < 0.01); OR = 8.55; 95% CI = 1.89-38.10], and over 5 years old [(p < 0.01); OR = 18.05; 95% CI = 3.20-
102.01). Both male and female goats and goats of different breeds were at similar risk of paratuberculosis based on the
insignificant difference results (p > 0.05). The results reveal that paratuberculosis is prevalent in the goat herds in
Northeastern Thailand. Age is identified as a factor that should be monitored in terms of disease outbreak and economic
losses due to disease.