Goat breeding for traditional cheese production (raw milk) is part of the local husbandry system in the Planalto Norte, Sao Antao island, Cabo Verde. Scanty studies (mainly unpublished reports) on the health status of the local goat population are available. The analysis of the annual OIE Disease reports (2007-2013) for the whole Cape Verde islands did not reveal cases of the diseases included in our study, except for suspected –never confirmed- cases of paratuberculosis and tuberculosis (reportedly in cattle from Santiago island). Within the framework of a research-development project, aimed to support the “Cooperativa Criadores das Montanhas, Santo Antao”, co-financed by Development Cooperation programmes, Regione Piemonte/Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and by local research funds UNITO_MIUR, blood samples (n=274) were preliminarily collected from 5 sentinel goat herds, out of 14 herds. Sera were tested for antibodies against agents of selected goat diseases, including zoonoses: i. brucellosis, by Rose Bengal Test, prevalence (p)=0%; ii. Q-fever, ELISA Chekit QFever®IDEEX, p=18- 46,7%(min-max); iii. contagious agalactia, Pourquier®Elisa Mycoplasma agalactiae Serum Screening, p=1.4.%; iv. caprine arthritis-encephalitis, in-house ELISA (P16-P25 recombinant antigens), p=1,4%; v. border disease, BVD p80 ELISA kit Pourquier, p=0%; vi. paratuberculosis, Pourquier®Elisa Paratuberculosis Antibody Screening, p=0%. Blood sampled goats were also submitted to tuberculin skin test (Caudal Fold Test using PPD); no reactors (p=0%) were detected. Our results –although preliminary- are quite reassuring from both animal and public health points of view, except for the high Q-fever seroprevalence. The adverse impact of Q-fever in goat breeding as well as its implications for public health, are well known. Considering the high positivity (81.6% of human sera) reported from past studies (1988) carried out in Cabo Verde islands, it is definitely worth assessing the extent of the zoonotic risk for local herders and population, due to contacts with potentially infected animals and their products (milk, cheese).
Prevalence of selected diseases - including zoonoses - in goat herds from Sao Antao island, Cabo Verde
DE MENEGHI, Daniele;ROBINO, Patrizia Maria;PROFITI, Margherita;TOMASSONE, Laura;ROSATI, Sergio;ZANET, STEFANIA;MAUTHE DEGERFELD, Mitzy;PATTONO, Daniele;QUARANTA, Giuseppe
2014-01-01
Abstract
Goat breeding for traditional cheese production (raw milk) is part of the local husbandry system in the Planalto Norte, Sao Antao island, Cabo Verde. Scanty studies (mainly unpublished reports) on the health status of the local goat population are available. The analysis of the annual OIE Disease reports (2007-2013) for the whole Cape Verde islands did not reveal cases of the diseases included in our study, except for suspected –never confirmed- cases of paratuberculosis and tuberculosis (reportedly in cattle from Santiago island). Within the framework of a research-development project, aimed to support the “Cooperativa Criadores das Montanhas, Santo Antao”, co-financed by Development Cooperation programmes, Regione Piemonte/Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and by local research funds UNITO_MIUR, blood samples (n=274) were preliminarily collected from 5 sentinel goat herds, out of 14 herds. Sera were tested for antibodies against agents of selected goat diseases, including zoonoses: i. brucellosis, by Rose Bengal Test, prevalence (p)=0%; ii. Q-fever, ELISA Chekit QFever®IDEEX, p=18- 46,7%(min-max); iii. contagious agalactia, Pourquier®Elisa Mycoplasma agalactiae Serum Screening, p=1.4.%; iv. caprine arthritis-encephalitis, in-house ELISA (P16-P25 recombinant antigens), p=1,4%; v. border disease, BVD p80 ELISA kit Pourquier, p=0%; vi. paratuberculosis, Pourquier®Elisa Paratuberculosis Antibody Screening, p=0%. Blood sampled goats were also submitted to tuberculin skin test (Caudal Fold Test using PPD); no reactors (p=0%) were detected. Our results –although preliminary- are quite reassuring from both animal and public health points of view, except for the high Q-fever seroprevalence. The adverse impact of Q-fever in goat breeding as well as its implications for public health, are well known. Considering the high positivity (81.6% of human sera) reported from past studies (1988) carried out in Cabo Verde islands, it is definitely worth assessing the extent of the zoonotic risk for local herders and population, due to contacts with potentially infected animals and their products (milk, cheese).I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.