A high morbidity and mortality of goats has been observed in the central area of Veracruz, Mexico, where goat production is practiced. The clinical signs showed by these goats may be related to mycoplasmosis, a highly contagious disease that causes serious economic losses. Thus, our objective was to evaluate the seroprevalence of Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides (Mmm) using a competitive ELISA (c-ELISA) and to assess risk factors associated with seropositivity. The seroprevalence of 556 goats sampled in random was 11.2%, the frequency by local municipality was 64.3%, and 25.3% per animal small production farm (SPF). The identified risk factors were associated with breeding in the municipalities of Coacoatzintla (OR=14.2; 95%CI: 6.9-29.5), Villa Aldama (OR=4.9; 95%CI:2.5–9.5) and Chiconquiaco (OR=7.71; 95%CI:3.6–16.47); the crossbreeding phenotype (OR=1.78; 95%CI:1.05–3.04), stage of suckling goat kids (OR=2.87; 95%CI:1.64–5.03), mobilization of animals (OR=4; 95%CI:2.33–6.88), semi intensive production system (OR=2.51; 95%CI:1.24–5.07) and coexistence with cattle (OR=3.28; 95%CI:1.53–7.02). Possible protective factors were associated with drink water from stream (OR=0.54; 95%CI: 0.29–0.98), well water (OR=0.11; 95% CI:0.01–0.82), Saanen breed (OR=0.39; 95%CI:0.19–0.8), purchased animals (OR=0.47; 95%CI:0.24–0.93) and the extensive system of production (OR=0.13; 95%CI:0.03–0.55). In conclusion, this study showed that the overall seroprevalence of Mmm in goats has a low general distribution, moderated by animal small production farms and high by municipality, in the central region of Veracruz, Mexico. Considering these results is required to perform further studies by use of molecular techniques for the precise identification of the etiological agent.

Key words: Goats, Mmm, Mycoplasmosis, Risk factors, Seroprevalence