Risk associations to milk ELISA result for paratuberculosis in dairy cows in northern Portugal using a multilevel regression model

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2010

Authors

Correia Gomes, C (Author) Other; Mendonca, D (Author) ICBAS; Niza Ribeiro, J (Author) ICBAS

Journal

Title: Revue de Medecine Veterinaire

Vol. 161

Pages: 295-301

ISSN: 0035-1555

Publisher: Ecole Nationale Veterinaire De Toulouse

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 6 Citations

Scopus - 1 Citation

Scientific classification

FOS: Agrarian Sciences > Veterinary science

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-6K3

Abstract (EN): Paratuberculosis is a contagious chronic disease of ruminants which causes significant losses in cattle worldwide, affecting mainly the dairy sector. The implementation of control programmes to have success requires previous knowledge about the risk factors relevant for the region where the programme will be implemented. The objective of the current cross-sectional study was to identify farm management factors significantly associated with cow milk ELISA result for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) in Northern Portugal. A direct questionnaire was conducted among a sample of 122 farms concerning the presence of possible risk factors for MAP. Milk samples from 5294 milking cows present in the sampled herds were tested with an indirect biphasic ELISA method. After the analysis, 120 cows were determined as infected (2.3%) and 56 farms (45.9%) had infected cows. The data were analysed using a multilevel logistic regression model. The significant risk associations found were: the contact between cattle from different herds (OR=3.47, 95%CI=1.60-7.56), herds that purchased cattle during the previous four years (OR=2.12, 95%CI=1.23-3.68), cows with higher parity versus parity one (second parities - OR=2.03, 95%CI=1.24-3.33 and third or higher parities - OR=2.90, 95%CI=1.91-4.40). The associations found were similar to the ones identified in other studies in Europe, and they reinforce the need of risk management programmes with particular emphasis on bio-security measures for replacement cattle.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7