The bacterium that causes Johne's disease is named Mycobacterium paratuberculosis often the name is abbreviated M. paratuberculosis. M. paratuberculosis is a relative of the bacterium that causes tuberculosis in humans (Mycobacterium tuberculosis), cattle (Mycobacterium bovis), and birds (Mycobacterium avium - Some taxonomists favor the name Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis for the organism that causes Johne's disease, since genetically it is closely related to M. avium. M.

M. paratuberculosis infects the last part of the small intestine (called the ileum) and causes a certain kind of inflammation called granulomatous inflammation. This inflammation thickens the intestinal wall, preventing it from functioning normally. This, among other factors, causes diarrhea and poor absorption of nutrients. As a result, even though animals will seem to be feeling and eating well, they will rapidly lose weight.

Johne's (pronounced "Yo-nees") disease is a contagious bacterial disease of the intestinal tract. A German veterinarian first described the disease in a dairy cow in 1895; his name is used as the common name for the disease. The disease is also called paratuberculosis. Visit the history page for more details. Johne's disease occurs in a wide variety of animals, but most often in ruminants. Ruminants are hoofed mammals that chew their cud and have a 3-4 chambered stomach.

Primarily, there are only two signs of M. paratuberculosis infection: diarrhea and rapid weight loss. In some animal species, like sheep and goats, diarrhea is less common. In general, animals with Johne's disease "waste away" despite their continuing to eat well. Infected animals maintain a normal temperature but may appear unthrifty and can become weak in later stages of the infection.

Johne's disease occurs worldwide. In the U.S. it is estimated that 7.8% of the beef herds and 22% of the dairy herds are infected with M. paratuberculosis. Infection rates in cattle in other countries are generally similar. The disease has been reported in sheep, goats, elk, deer, bison, llamas and wild ruminants in zoos but accurate estimates of the number of infected animals are not available.

Johne's disease typically enters a herd or flock of animals when an infected, but healthy-looking, animal is purchased. The infection then spreads to other animals, often without the owner's being aware of it. Eventually, perhaps after several years, the owner recognizes signs of the disease in a number of animals. Individual animals get infected by close contact with other infected animals, that shed the bacterium in their manure.

There are three common ways to test animals for Johne's disease: culture of fecal samples, DNA probe on fecal samples, and blood tests for antibodies to M. paratuberculosis. It is best to consult with your local veterinarian about testing. (Because testing strategies are somewhat different for each animal species, visitors to this site are advised to seek detailed information by first selecting an animal species and then choosing "Diagnosis" from the menu on the left).

Methods for Johne's disease control depend on the type of animal and the patterns of husbandry. In principle, two strategies must be employed at the same time: newborn animals must be protected from infection by being born and raised in a clean environment and fed milk free of M. paratuberculosis. adult animals carrying the M. paratuberculosis infection must be identified by laboratory tests and removed from the herd, flock or enclosure.

Although few studies report attempts to treat Johne's disease with antibiotics, it is probably not curable. If it can be cured, it will likely require use of multiple antibiotics administered for a year or longer. For most animals, this is cost-prohibitive. For more detailed information visit the page on "Antimicrobial Therapy".

Johne's (pronounced "Yo-nees") disease is a contagious, slowly developing and fatal bacterial disease of the intestinal tract. A German veterinarian first described it in a dairy cow in 1895 and the disease was named after him. The disease is also called paratuberculosis. Johne's disease primarily occurs in domestic and wild ruminant species such as sheep, goats, cattle, bison, deer, llama, etc. It has also infrequently been reported in non-ruminant species e.g. rabbits, primates, fox and stoat.

This disease is hard to detect. The signs of Johne's disease are vague and months can pass after infection before they appear. Weight loss in animals with a good appetite may be the only indication as diarrhea is not a common sign in sheep, unlike what is seen in cattle. Infected sheep may appear unthrifty and wool break/poor fleece condition may also be noted.

Knowledge on the prevalence of this disease in the approximately 8.5 million sheep and lambs in the U.S. is limited, due both to lack of testing and reporting. However, valuable information on the prevalence of Johne's disease in sheep managed in the United States will be collected through the confidential "Sheep 2001" survey to be conducted by the National Animal Health Monitoring System of the USDA. BM_1_(Please consider participating in the survey if asked - the results likely will guide U.S.

Johne's disease typically enters a flock when an apparently healthy, but infected, animal is introduced. This animal contaminates the premises (feed, ground, water) by shedding the organism in its manure. The organism is then ingested by other sheep. Lambs are thought to be most susceptible to infection and their suckling manure-contaminated teats is another route of infection. It is also possible that a ewe in the later phases of the infection can shed M.

Although few studies have been reported, Johne's disease is not considered a curable disease. As with most diseases caused by mycobacteria, the course of therapy is very long (months) and expensive. For most animals, treatment is cost prohibitive and the best that can be expected is an improvement in clinical signs while under treatment, not a cure.

The best way to avoid this chronic infectious disease is to be as certain as possible that animals brought into the herd are not infected with M. paratuberculosis. This is not always easy. Laboratory tests for cattle are more widely available than for sheep, goats or zoo animals. Still, some type of test is available for every animal.

Johne's (pronounced "YO-nees") disease is a contagious, slowly developing and fatal bacterial disease of the intestinal tract. A German veterinarian first described it in a dairy cow in 1895 and the disease was named after him. The disease is also called paratuberculosis. Johne's disease primarily occurs in domestic and wild ruminant species such as sheep, goats, cattle, deer/elk , bison etc. It has also infrequently been reported in non-ruminant species e.g.

Johne's disease typically enters a herd when an apparently healthy, but infected, animal is introduced. This animal contaminates the premises (feed, ground, water) by shedding the organism in its manure. The organism is then ingested by other deer/elk. Calves are thought to be most susceptible to infection - they can acquire the organism by suckling manure-contaminated teats and possibly from the milk/colostrum itself as the dam may shed M.

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