High seroprevalence of pathogenic Yersinia spp. in sheep and goats across nine government farms in the Pakistani Punjab.

Abstract

Seroprevalence of Y. enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis infections in animals and humans is not established in Pakistan. There are only a few reports on the prevalence of pathogenic Yersinia spp. and infections in small ruminants, however, the role of sheep and goats in the transmission of pathogenic Yersinia remains unclear. A primary survey investigated the presence of anti-Yersinia antibodies among a small population of ruminants detected by recombinant antigen targets in nine government farms dispersed throughout the Punjab province of Pakistan. Antibodies specific for Y. enterocolitica were detected in 7/9 sheep flocks and in 4/4 goat flocks. Antibodies specific for Y. pseudotuberculosis were detected in 4/9 sheep flocks. Two sheep flocks revealed the presence of both Y. enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis specific antibodies. Due to the high number of the population involved in raising small ruminants the risk to veterinary and public health must be rapidly determined.