SERO-PREVALENCE OF MYCOPLASMA CAPRICOLUM SUBSP. CAPRIPNEUMONIAE IN GOATS THROUGH cELISA IN DIFFERENT DISTRICTS OF PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the sero-prevalence of CCPP, in five districts of Punjab that is Okara, Faisalabad, Lahore, Bahawalpur and Pakpatan and three Govt. livestock research institutes that is Research and Development Center, Rakh Khare Wala (District Layyah), Barani Livestock Production Research Institute, Kherimorat (District Attock) and Livestock Production Research Institute, Bahadurnagar, Okara. A total of 364 serum samples were collected from July, 2012 to July, 2013, from clinically respiratory distressed and unvaccinated goats of different breeds, age and sex. Samples were subjected to monoclonal antibody-based competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) for the specific measurement of antibodies to Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae (Mccp) bacterium. Thirty one out of 364 samples were positive by cELISA indicating overall sero-prevalence of CCPP as 8.52 %. Statistically the proportional prevalence of CCPP in male and female Beetal goats was significantly higher in Faisalabad district and also at Research and Development Center, Rakh Khare Wala (District Layyah) rather than other districts and research centers. The findings of this survey revealed the evidence of goat exposure to Mccp in different districts and research centers in Punjab province, although at a low prevalence. This sero-survey was conducted for the first time in Pakistan by applying the latest cELISA technique, urging the need of control of this economically important disease for resource poor livestock keepers in Pakistan.