Current progress in bovine paratuberculosis research
1999
Yokomizo, Y. (National Inst. of Animal Health, Tsukuba, Ibaraki (Japan))
Paratuberculosis, commonly known as Johne's disease, is a chronic granulomatous intestinal and incurable infectious disease of ruminants caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis. This disease causes considerable economic losses in dairy and beef cattle, mainly due to premature disposal, and the decrease of milk production or body weight. In 1971, paratuberculosis was made notifiable in Japan. The number of reported cases has increased steadily since 1981. In 1997, the Ministry of Agriculture. Forestry and Fisheries instituted the nation-wide paratuberculosis-eradication project, using ELISA and fecal culture as screening tests. During the period from January 1997 to October 1999, the total of 2,060 suspected cases were condemned with indemnity paid under the national control program. Now that domestic livestock is considered free from brucellosis and tuberculosis in Japan, paratuberculosis is generally accepted as economically the most detrimental disease in the cattle industry. The disease should not be ignored when we think of the aspects of the environmental hazard by the contaminated manure and the microbiological quality of raw milk, though M. paratuberculosis is not classified as a member of zoonosis pathogens. This review will deal with current progress of molecular biology of M. paratuberculosis and immunological research of ruminant paratuberculosis. It will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various diagnostic tests. Lastly, it will present current concepts on control strategy of paratuberculosis by use of diagnostic tests in conjunction with animal husbandry practices to limit transmission of M. paratuberculosis.
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