Article Abstract

Volume 33, No. (4), 2023 (August)
ENDEMIC SEROPREVALENCE AND FARMER CONTROL MEASURES OF ANTHRAX AMONG RUMINATE ANIMALS IN PAKISTAN
Nageen Sardar, Aftab Ahmad Anjum, Maryam Javed, Saima Ayub, Nadia Mukhtar, Hassan Bin Aslam, Alan J. Wolfe, Daniel S. Schabacker, Sara Forrester, Mark Khemmani, Amin A. Aqel, Muhammad Furqan Shahid, Saima Yaqub, Muzaffar Ali, Muhammad Abubakar Shabbir, Muhammad Zubair Shabbir, Muhammad Nawaz, Muhammad Waqar Aziz, Tahir Yaqub

N. Sardar¹, A. A. Anjum², M. Javed³, S. Ayub⁴, N. Mukhtar⁵, H. B. Aslam⁶, A. J. Wolfe⁷, D. S. Schabacker⁸, S. Forrester⁹, M. Khemmani¹⁰, A. A. Aqel¹¹, M. F. Shahid¹², S. Yaqub¹³, M. Ali¹⁴, M. A. Shabbir¹⁵, M. Z. Shabbir¹⁶, M. Nawaz¹⁷, M. W. Aziz¹⁸, T. Yaqub¹⁹*

¹ Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan,
² Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan,
³ Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan,
⁴ Department of Bacteriology, Institute of Public Health, Lahore, Pakistan,
⁵ Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan,
⁶ Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan,
⁷ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL 60660, USA,
⁸ Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA,
⁹ Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA,
¹⁰ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL 60660, USA,
¹¹ Faculty of Medicine, Mutah University, Al-Karak, Jordan,
¹² Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan,
¹³ Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan,
¹⁴ Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan,
¹⁵ Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan,
¹⁶ Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan,
¹⁷ Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan,
¹⁸ Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan,
¹⁹ Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan,

Corresponding Author: tahiryaqub@uvas.edu.pk
Page Number(s): 920-927
Published Online First: April 15, 2023
Publication Date: August 04, 2023
ABSTRACT

Anthrax, caused by Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis), is an important zoonotic disease of livestock that poses a threat to public safety. The present study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Bacillus anthracis in sheep and cattle in endemic areas (Punjab and Balochistan provinces) of Pakistan by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cross-sectional survey was also done to assess the control measures of the farmers. Out of 401 serum samples from sheep and cattle, a total of 68 (16.9%) samples were seropositive for anti-PA antibodies; seroprevalence of B. anthracis in sheep and cattle was 22.11% (48/217) and 10.86% (20/184), respectively. Seroprevalence was significantly higher (p<0.05) in Baluchistan province (33.3%, 44/132) compared to Punjab province (8.92%, 24/269). Most farmers (65.90%, 29/44) were not disposing carcasses as recommended. Around 77.28%, 17/22 of the veterinary officials reported the non-availability of vaccine against anthrax and 63.63% (14/22) stated the lack of cold chain for the vaccine storage and transportation. We concluded that seroprevalence of B. anthracis in unvaccinated sheep and cattle is evidence that the pathogen is circulating in Baluchistan and Punjab provinces. So must applied an active surveillance and, strengthened veterinary practices vaccination programs to control anthrax outbreaks in endemic areas.

Keywords: Seroprevalence, Bacillus anthracis, Endemic, Anthrax

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Journal Impact Factor: 0.5 | (JCR Year: 2025) | Cite Score: 1.3

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Print ISSN: 1018-7081

Electronic ISSN: 2309-8694

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