Seroprevalence of Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies capri in ruminants and camel

The present work was carried out to study the seroprevalence of Mycoplasma mycoides ssp. capri in small and large ruminants and their possible role in its transmission among goat population. A total of 1288 serum samples were collected from randomly selected small and large animals including goat, sheep, cattle, buffalo and camel slaughtered in Faisalabad abattoir. The percentages of positive sera were recorded after preliminary screening of all samples through counter immuno-electrophoresis (CIE) test. To rule out the possibility of false positive results and to determine the geometric mean antibody titer (GMT), the positive samples through CIE were subjected to indirect haemagglutination (IHA) test. Seroprevalence was recorded in each species of animal. Overall results showed that goat sera were highly seropositive through CIE (7.3) and IHA (1.6), followed by sheep and cattle. In sheep, positive percentage was 2.6 and 1.5 through CIE and IHA tests, respectively. In cattle, 1.9% was positive through CIE and 0.7% through IHA test. Camel and buffalo population were positive for CIE as 1.3 and 0.8%, respectively. There was no evidence of IHA antibody response in their serum. The GMT through IHA test was 3.5, 3.0 and 2.3 in goat, sheep and cattle, respectively. The overall prevalence was 3.0±0.9 and 0.8±0.5% through CIE and IHA tests, respectively. The CIE was found an efficient, sensitive and economical test for initial screening whereas IHA test was found more specific and used for antibody titration. The percentage of positive samples was higher in sheep and cattle after goat which indicates their possible role in the transmission of M. mycoides ssp. capri among goat population. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.