Bovine paratuberculosis, or Johne’s Disease, is caused by the organism Mycobacterium paratuberculosis or Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Raymond W. Sweeney, 1996). It causes economic losses due to decreased milk production of infected cattle (Stabel, 1998).
The symptoms of this disease are decreased milk production, diarrhea, internal lesions, and weight loss (A. P. Koets et al., 2001). The symptoms do not appear until later in life which is a major problem in controlling this disease (Rosseels & Huygen, 2008). No management can be taken until symptoms appear and by then other cattle would be infected.
Sweeney (1996) has studied the transmission of the disease. A large cause of transmission is from ingestion of infected fecal matter. Calves can also be infected in the uterus of the infected mother. Milk and semen also have the potential to contain the bacteria. Infected milk is most likely a large source of transmission to young calves feeding from their mothers.
Proper sanitation of bottles used to feed calves is essential in order to limit the amount of bacteria ingested by the calf. Limiting interaction with older cattle who may have the disease can decrease infection in a susceptible young calf (Raymond W. Sweeney, 1996). There is no cure for this disease so prevention and management are key (R. W. Sweeney, Collins, Koets, Mcguirk, & Roussel, 2012).
Header image: Frank Miller: http://www.irishtimes.com/business/agribusiness-and-food/cattle-deaths-in-cork-may-be-linked-to-lead-in-collars-1.2538535
Koets, A. P., Rutten, V. P. M. G., De Boer, M., Bakker, D., Valentin-Weigand, P., & Van Eden, W. (2001). Differential changes
in heat shock protein-, lipoarabinomannan-, and purified protein derivative-specific immunoglobulin G1 and G2
isotype responses during bovine Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection. Infection and Immunity,
69(3), 1492–1498. https://doi.org/10.1128/IAI.69.3.1492-1498.2001
Stabel, J. R. (1998). Johne’s Disease: A Hidden Threat. Journal of Dairy Science, 81(1), 283–288.
https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(98)75577-8
Sweeney, R. W. (1996). Transmission of Paratuberculosis. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice, 12(2),
305–312. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0749-0720(15)30408-4
Sweeney, R. W., Collins, M. T., Koets, A. P., Mcguirk, S. M., & Roussel, A. J. (2012). Paratuberculosis (Johne’s Disease) in
Cattle and Other Susceptible Species. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 26(6), 1239–1250.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2012.01019.x
Koets, A. P., Rutten, V. P. M. G., De Boer, M., Bakker, D., Valentin-Weigand, P., & Van Eden, W. (2001). Differential changes
in heat shock protein-, lipoarabinomannan-, and purified protein derivative-specific immunoglobulin G1 and G2
isotype responses during bovine Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection. Infection and Immunity,
69(3), 1492–1498. https://doi.org/10.1128/IAI.69.3.1492-1498.2001
Stabel, J. R. (1998). Johne’s Disease: A Hidden Threat. Journal of Dairy Science, 81(1), 283–288.
https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(98)75577-8
Sweeney, R. W. (1996). Transmission of Paratuberculosis. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice, 12(2),
305–312. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0749-0720(15)30408-4
Sweeney, R. W., Collins, M. T., Koets, A. P., Mcguirk, S. M., & Roussel, A. J. (2012). Paratuberculosis (Johne’s Disease) in
Cattle and Other Susceptible Species. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 26(6), 1239–1250.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2012.01019.x