RT Journal T1 ENDEMIC SEROPREVALENCE AND FARMER CONTROL MEASURES OF ANTHRAX AMONG RUMINATE ANIMALS IN PAKISTAN A1 Nageen Sardar A1 Aftab Ahmad Anjum A1 Maryam Javed A1 Saima Ayub A1 Nadia Mukhtar A1 Hassan Bin Aslam A1 Alan J. Wolfe A1 Daniel S. Schabacker A1 Sara Forrester A1 Mark Khemmani A1 Amin A. Aqel A1 Muhammad Furqan Shahid A1 Saima Yaqub A1 Muzaffar Ali A1 Muhammad Abubakar Shabbir A1 Muhammad Zubair Shabbir A1 Muhammad Nawaz A1 Muhammad Waqar Aziz A1 Tahir Yaqub JF Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences JO JAPS SN 1018-7081 VO 33 IS 4 SP 920 OP 927 YR 2023 FD 2023/08/04 DO DOI https://doi.org/10.36899/JAPS.2023.4.0685 AB

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.

K1 Seroprevalence, Bacillus anthracis, Endemic, Anthrax PB Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum LK https://thejaps.org.pk/AbstractView.aspx?mid=2022-JAPS-429