Seroprevalence of
ParatuberculosisamongCamels in Al-Ahsa and Riyadh Regions, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Fadhel MT Housawi1, Ahmed A Zaghawa1,2*
and Abdulmohsen Al-Naeem1
1Department
of Clinical studies, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal
Resources, King Faisal University, KSA; 2Department
of Animal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary
Medicine, University of Sadat City, Sadat City 32897,
Minoufiya, Egypt *Corresponding author:zagahmed@hotmail.com
Abstract
Mycobacterium avium
subsp. paratuberculosis infection
causes reduction in milk yield, premature culling and reduced slaughter value.
In this paper aseroprevalence of Paratuberculosis among
camel in Al-Ahsa and Riyadh regions of the KSA was done. For
this purpose a total of 444 camel sera samples were collected from Riyadh
(n=101), and in the Eastern region from a Veterinary Clinic (n=171) and from Al-Hasa
slaughter house (n=172). The sera were tested by ELISA for the detection of
antibodies to Mycobacterium avium sub
spp. paratuberculosis.Positive sera were 32 (7.2%), with 10 (9.9%) positive sera in the Riyadh
region, while 22 sera (6.41%) were tested positive in the Eastern region.
Statistical analysis showed no significant difference in the prevalence in the
two regions. Prevalence of antibodies to
Mycobacterium avium sub spp.
paratuberculosis were statistically non-significant association of the camel
breeds. Twelve (13.33%) seropositive camels were less than two years old and 20
(5.64%) were older than two years. The difference in prevalence in the two
tested age strata was statistically significant. Five (5.1%) male and 27 females
(7.8%) had antibodies to MAP. The
difference between genders was not statistically significant.It was concluded that infection of camels with
MAP occur in the KSA but not yet known
to which extent they cause clinical disease. Further studies are needed to
determine the risk factors of infection that influences a further spread of the
infection. The determination of these risk factors will help to plan program to
control the disease.