Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 16, 2026
Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification LAMP Assays for the Species-specific Detection of Eimeria that Infect Chickens
Published on: February 20, 2015
Preliminary study on paratuberculosis, small ruminant lentivirus, and co-infection in Emilia Romagna flocks
Elisabetta Mondo1, Raffaele Scarpellini1, Erika Esposito1
1Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Background:
Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) and Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) are major pathogens affecting sheep and goats, leading to significant economic losses and animal welfare concerns.
Aim:
To investigate the frequency of SRLV e MAP seropositivity in sheep and goats in the Emilia Romagna region through a comprehensive serological examination.
Methods:
A total of 387 sera (304 sheep and 81 goats) were subjected to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of antibodies against SRLV serotypes A, B, and E and for the detection of antibodies against MAP.
Results:
Serological analysis showed that 81.3% of the animals were positive for at least one causative agent, of which 93% were positive for SRLV, 0.3% for MAP, and 6.6% for SRLV-MAP co-infection. Furthermore, in both SRLV-only positive and SRLV-MAP co-infected samples, genotype B was the most representative (45.7%).
Conclusion:
The results of the study showed the presence of SRLV and paratuberculosis, as well as a prevalence of SRLV-MAP co-infection, for the first time in sheep and goats in the region, as well as the prevalence of SRLV-MAP co-infection, underlying the importance of implementing effective measures to control the spread of pathogens in small ruminants.
