Preventive Veterinary Medicine publish this investigation article

November 1^st, 2018

The role of domestic pigs in the epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) is considered to be limited due to the characteristics of intensive production systems. However, in southwestern Spain, Iberian pigs are usually raised under extensive management systems, sharing their habitat with other domestic and wild species, some of which may act as reservoirs of MTC. Our objective was to determine the seroprevalence, risk factors, spatial distribution and spoligotypes of MTC circulating in extensively farmed pigs in Andalusia (southern Spain), a region with a high prevalence of tuberculosis in both cattle and wild boar populations. Serum samples from 3622 extensively-raised Iberian pigs from 129 randomly selected farms were tested for antibodies against MTC using an indirect (P22) ELISA. Antibodies to MTC were detected in 82 pigs (2.3%; 95%CI: 1.8–2.8%). Seropositivity was significantly higher in sows (3.7%) than in fattening pigs (1.7%) (P = 0.0001). Herd prevalence was 24.8% (95%CI: 17.4–32.3%). Two risk factors were associated with MTC seropositivity on farms: herd size (higher seroprevalence on larger farms) (OR=1.001; 95%CI: 1.000–1.002), and the presence of neighboring goat flocks (OR = 7.345; 95%CI: 1.464–36.848). Two statistically significant spatial clusters (P < 0.001) were identified in the north-west of Andalusia. A total of 25 different MTC spoligotypes were isolated in pigs bred extensively in the study area. Based on the serological and molecular results obtained in the current study, it is possible that extensively raised Iberian pigs may act as an MTC reservoir in Mediterranean ecosystems. The high herd prevalence, as well as the identification of significant spatial clusters, indicates widespread, but not homogenous MTC circulation among extensively-managed pig farms. Risk-based surveillance and control programs should be implemented on this type of farms in Spain

Cano-Terriza D., Risalde MA., Rodriguez-Hernandez P., Napp S., Fernandez-Morente M., Moreno I., Bezos J., Fernandez-Molera V., Saez-Llorente JL. and Garcia-Bocanegra I.

Epidemiological surveillance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in extensively raised pigs in the south of Spain

Epidemiological surveillance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in extensively raised pigs in the south of Spain

	Departamento de Sanidad Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad de Córdoba (UCO).
	Departamento de Anatomía y Anatomía Patológica Comparadas. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad de Córdoba (UCO).
	Sanidad y Biotecnología (SaBio). Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC). Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC). Universidad de Castilla La Mancha (UCLM). Gobierno de Castilla-La Mancha (JCCM).
	Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentarias (IRTA). Generalitat de Catalunya.
	Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA). Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).
	Consejería de Agricultura y Pesca. Junta de Andalucía.
	Servicio de Inmunología. Centro Nacional de Microbiología (CNM). Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII).
	Departamento de Sanidad Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM).
	Servicio de Micobacterias (MYC). Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM).
	Subdirección General de Sanidad e Higiene Animal y Trazabilidad. Dirección General de la Producción Agraria. Ministerio de Agricultura y Pesca, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente (MAPAMA).