title: Herd-level prevalence of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis by bulk-tank milk PCR in Fars province (southern Iran) dairy herds.
abstract: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to August 2006 in dairy herds in Fars province, southern Iran to determine the herd-level prevalence of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection. Bulk-tank milk samples were collected from 110 dairy herds in the 3 districts (Shiraz, Marvdasht and Sepidan) of the province. Among study populations, 12 herds (11%, 95%CI: 5-17%) were positive for MAP infection based on IS900 nested PCR. The prevalence of positive milk samples in the three districts of Fars province was different ranging from 8.6% to 23% which was not statistically significant (P=0.19). It is recommended to conduct further epidemiologic studies to determine cow-level prevalence and risk factors for infection, and to evaluate the economic consequences of the MAP infection in the region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haghkhah
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ansari-Lari
authors.forename: Amir Mansour
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Novin-Baheran
authors.forename: Ayatollah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bahramy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008892:Milk / Q000382:microbiology*; D016927:Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010283:Paratuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors