Seroprevalence and risk factors of Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum among small ruminants in northern Jordan

Abstract

During 2002-2003 the seroprevalence of Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum was studied among 104 small ruminant’s flocks (18 sheep, 27 goat and 59 mixed flocks) in northern Jordan. At least 5 serum samples/flock were tested using iELISA test. The true flock-level seroprevalences of Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum were 56%, 39%, 28% in small ruminant (sheep and goats), sheep and goats respectively. There was no significant difference (X2 = 2, d.f. =1, p = 0.15) between seroprevalences in sheep and goats at the flock level. A total of 29 variables including production and health management practices were tested as risk factors for seropositive flocks and analyzed using logistic regression analysis. The use of communal grazing was found to be a risk factor for Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum seropositivity with odds ratio of 5.2 and drinking the animals with spring water was a protective factor with odds ratio of 0.27. More than half of the examined flocks were seropositive to Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum indicating a role for Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum in contagious agalactiae in small ruminants. The education of farmers regarding the use of communal grazing and housing the newborn in separate barns is expected to help reducing the Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum infections in their flocks.