Seroprevalence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in small ruminants in Germany

This study gives a first view into the current epidemiological situation of infections with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) in German sheep and goat flocks. Furthermore, the correlation between the flock size and the flock seroprevalence of antibodies against MAP was investigated. On an individual basis, the correlation between body condition score (BCS), age and the serological status against MAP were calculated. For this purpose, the 10 skinniest animals in 167 German sheep and goat flocks were sampled. Serum samples from 1609 small ruminants were investigated for the presence of MAP antibodies using the commercial CATTLETYPE® MAP Ab ELISA test kit (LDL - Labor Diagnostik Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany).The investigation revealed an overall individual MAP seroprevalence of 15% and a flock prevalence of 65%. Intra-flock prevalence in positive flocks was 22% (17% standard deviation (SD)). The intra-flock prevalence increased with the flock size, except for very large sheep flocks with more than 1000 ewes, but this correlation was not statistically significant. A low BCS correlated only in goats with a higher seroprevalence, not in sheep. No distinct correlation could be demonstrated between MAP serostatus and age.