%0 Journal Article
%T Estimation of the prevalence at animal level of paratuberculosis in female cattle of Saxony-Anhalt (Germany)
%A Nicolai Denzin
%A Bernd Gehrmann
%A Benno Ewert
%A Holger Rohde
%J Veterinary Science Development
%D 2011
%I PAGEPress Publications
%R 10.4081/vsd.2011.e10
%X Johne¡¯s disease (paratuberculosis) is a chronic, untreatable disease of ruminants caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis. It leads to economic losses in livestock production but is also suspected to be involved in the pathogenesis of Crohn¡¯s disease in humans. In 2007/2008 a study was conducted to estimate the prevalence at animal level of paratuberculosis among the female cattle of Saxony-Anhalt (Germany). In order to keep study costs low and participating farms confidential, no farms were visited to actively draw samples. Instead, animals were pre-selected in a formal random sampling process and additionally tested by ELISA for paratuberculosis when samples suitable for serology were routinely submitted to the State Office of Consumer Protection Saxony-Anhalt for any diagnostics. Out of 896 samples, 38 tested positive, giving an apparent prevalence of 4.2%. Based on the test quality traits of the ELISA employed in the study (POURQUIER  ELISA Paratuberculosis) the true prevalence was estimated to 6.7% (95% CI, 3.0-10.4%). No spatial clustering of positive results was detected by a scan statistic. Prevalence estimates for age strata tended to show an incline to a maximum at age class of 5 years and a subsequent decline with higher age classes. Estimates tended to show an incline with herd size.
%K Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis
%K cattle
%K serology
%K true prevalence
%U http://www.pagepress.org/journals/index.php/vsd/article/view/3504