Risk factors associated with seroprevalence of paratuberculosis in mature goats in Northeastern Thailand

The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors for the seroprevalence of paratuberculosis in mature goats in Northeastern Thailand. The study area included Buriram, Chaiyaphum, Kalasin, Khon Kaen, Mahasarakham, Nakhonratchasrima, Roi et, Sakon Nakhon, Srisaket, and Udonthani. The seroprevalence of paratuberculosis determined in 37 herds, a total of 671 serum samples, was 12.82%. The risk factors related to paratuberculosis were analyzed at individual level using mixed model logistic regression. At the individual level, 86 of 671 goats tested positive based on an ELISA assay. Risk factors associated with the seroprevalence of MAP antibodies included age, divided into six groups, sex, breed, and body condition score (BCS). In addition, when using goats younger than 1 year old as a baseline, older goats were at higher risk than younger goats: 3 years old [(p < 0.05); OR = 5.48; 95% CI = 1.17-25.64], 4 years old [(p < 0.01); OR = 8.55; 95% CI = 1.89-38.10], and over 5 years old [(p < 0.01); OR = 18.05; 95% CI = 3.20-102.01). Both male and female goats and goats of different breeds were at similar risk of paratuberculosis based on the insignificant difference results (p > 0.05). The results reveal that paratuberculosis is prevalent in the goat herds in Northeastern Thailand. Age is identified as a factor that should be monitored in terms of disease outbreak and economic losses due to disease.