Isolation of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis (Map) from feral cats on a dairy farm with map-infected cattle
2005
Palmer, M.V. | Stoffregen, W.C. | Carpenter, J.G. | Stabel, J.R.
A cross sectional study was done to examine non-ruminant, non-domestic animals for the presence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) around a midwestern dairy with known MAP-infected cattle. Twenty-five feral cats, 9 mice, 8 rabbits, 6 raccoons and 3 opossums were trapped and euthanatized humanely. Tissues were collected and processed for the isolation of MAP as well as examined microscopically for lesions consistent with paratuberculosis. Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis was isolated from the mesenteric lymph node from 7/25 (28%) of feral cats. Isolations of MAP were also made from the jejunum or ileum of 3/7 MAP-infected cats and 1/9 (11%) of mice. Tissue samples from other species did not yield MAP and microscopic lesions consistent with paratuberculosis were not seen in any animal. Dairy cattle may transmit MAP to non-domestic animals such as feral cats. The means by which cattle may transmit MAP to cats may be direct through ingestion of MAP contaminated feces or waste milk or indirect through ingestion of MAP-infected prey. Shedding of MAP from infected cats was not evaluated. The epidemiological role of MAP-infected feral cats on dairy farms requires further investigation.
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