PREVALENCE OF BOVINE AND OVINE Paratuberculosis IN KERICHO COUNTY AND KONOIN SUB-COUNTY, KENYA.

Abstract

A study was carried out in Kericho County and Konoin Sub-County, Kenya to determine the presence and prevalence of paratuberculosis (Johne’s Disease) in cattle and sheep between February and April 2015. Faecal and serum samples were collected from 423 cattle and 403 sheep in randomly selected households. Serum samples were subjected to antibody analysis by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Faecal samples were examined for acid-fast bacilli by Ziehl Neelsen (ZN) staining and cultured in Herold’s Egg Yolk Medium containing Mycobactin J. Thirty-five (35) selected faecal samples were tested for Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) by Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR). qPCR was used as a confirmatory test to the other three tests. The prevalence of paratuberculosis by ELISA was 2.1-2.4% and 0-0.3% in cattle and sheep respectively. By ZN staining, the prevalence ranged from 4.0- 16.8% and 0.2-2.2% in cattle and sheep respectively. Isolates of MAP were obtained from 2 cattle and 1 sheep faecal samples. All the positive culture (2) and ZN staining (2), 4 out of 6 positive ELISA, 7 out of 13 negative ZN staining and 10 out of 12 ZN staining inconclusive results were confirmed positive by qPCR for MAP. There was a Pearson correlation of 0.97 between the three tests and qPCR. This study confirms the presence of MAP in cattle and sheep in Kenya and provides baseline information of the disease in the area of study. Paratuberculosis is a notifiable disease and there is need for a wider study to determine the prevalence in the country as a basis for instituting surveillance and control measures of the disease.