Seroprevalence Of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides Among Slaughtered Cattle in Gboko, Nigeria.

Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides SC, the aetiology of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), is an important disease of cattle with economic consequences which continue to devastate cattle herds on which so many people are dependent on in Africa. A total of 50 serum samples (n=50) were collected and tested for the presence of specific antibodies against Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides using cELISA. Chi-square analysis was performed on collected data to determine the association between the dependent variables (sex and age) and independent variable (seroprevalence of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides). An overall seroprevalence of 46.00% was recorded in the study area. The seroprevalence by sex was determined to be 42.86% (6/14) in bulls and 47.22% (17/36) in cows while the seroprevalence by age was determined to be 83.33% (5/6) in age group 1-2years, 44.83% (13/29) in age group 3-4years and 33.33% (5/15) in age group above 5years. However, no significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed in sex and age related seroprevalence. This study showed epidemiological evidence that Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides infection was considerably prevalent in Gboko and this indicates an urgent need for intervention and implementing control measures to prevent further spread of the disease in the study area through the use of better coordinated vaccination and other management programs.