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Seroepidemiology of tuberculosis in sheep in southern Spain

Investigation published in Preventive Veterinary Medicine

June 1st, 2023

Tuberculosis (TB) is a multi-host infectious disease caused by members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC). In Mediterranean ecosystems, where multiple animal hosts of TB are present, identifying the role of the different species involved in the epidemiology of TB is a key point to be able to implement proper control measures. Sheep are susceptible to MTC infection but have traditionally been considered a spillover host. However, the occurrence of outbreaks involving sheep in recent years evidences the need to better understand the role of this small ruminant species in the epidemiology of the disease. Here, we aimed to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with MTC seropositivity in sheep in Andalusia (southern Spain), a region with one of the highest prevalence of MTC infection in both cattle and wild ungulates. A total of 2266 sheep from 83 flocks were tested for antibodies against MTC using an in-house indirect ELISA. Anti-MTC antibodies were detected in 16 (0.7%) of the 2266 sheep (adjusted true prevalence 0.29%, 95% posterior probability interval 0.01-1.05). Seropositivity was found in 14.5% (12/83; 95%CI: 6.9-22.0) of the sheep farms analyzed. A semi-extensive management system was identified as a risk factor associated with MTC seropositivity in sheep farms (OR = 3.7; p < 0.038; 95%CI: 1.1-12.4) in the study area. To the best of the authors` knowledge, this is the first active TB surveillance study carried out to assess MTC exposure in sheep. Our results indicate MTC circulation in sheep farms in southern Spain. However, the low individual seroprevalence obtained suggests that sheep may play a limited role in the epidemiology of TB in this region. Serosurveillance programs could be a valuable tool to detect MTC circulation in sheep in risk scenarios or target farms, in order to optimize control measures on TB animal in multi-host Mediterranean ecosystems




Jimenez-Martin D., Cano-Terriza D., Risalde MA., Napp S., Alvarez J., Fernandez-Molera V., Moreno I., Infantes-Lorenzo JA. and Garcia-Bocanegra I.




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Seroepidemiology of tuberculosis in sheep in southern Spain

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Seroepidemiology of tuberculosis in sheep in southern Spain



Participants:

Universidad de CórdobaDepartamento de Sanidad Animal. Departamento de Anatomía y Anatomía Patológica Comparadas. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad de Córdoba (UCO).

Instituto de Salud Carlos IIICentro de Investigación de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC). Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII).

Generalitat de CatalunyaCentre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA). Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentarias (IRTA). Generalitat de Catalunya.

Universidad ComplutenseServicio de Micobacterias (MYC). Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM).

Universidad ComplutenseDepartamento de Sanidad Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM).

Junta de AndalucíaConsejería de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Desarrollo Sostenible (CAGPDS). Junta de Andalucía.

Instituto de Salud Carlos IIIServicio de Inmunología. Centro Nacional de Microbiología (CNM). Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII).







Preventive Veterinary Medicine
FACTOR YEAR Q
2.200 2023

NLMID: 8217463

PMID: 37094444

ISSN: 0167-5877



TITLE: Seroepidemiology of tuberculosis in sheep in southern Spain


JOURNAL: Prev Vet Med


NUMERACIÓN: 215:105920


AÑO: 2023


PUBLISHER: Elsevier Science Publishers


AUTHORS: Jimenez-Martin D., Cano-Terriza D., Risalde MA., Napp S., Alvarez J., Fernandez-Molera V., Moreno I., Infantes-Lorenzo JA. and Garcia-Bocanegra I.


5th
Julio Álvarez Sánchez
7th
Inmaculada Moreno Iruela

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2023.105920


CITE THIS PUBLICATION:

Jimenez-Martin D., Cano-Terriza D., Risalde MA., Napp S., Alvarez J., Fernandez-Molera V., Moreno I., Infantes-Lorenzo JA. and Garcia-Bocanegra I. Seroepidemiology of tuberculosis in sheep in southern Spain. Preventive Veterinary Medicine. 215:105920. 2023. (A). ISSN: 0167-5877. DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2023.105920


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