Paratuberculosis

Lucas Pantaleon

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) is the causative agent of paratuberculosis or Johne’s disease (JD) in ruminants, causing a chronic progressive enteritis. Young calves are the most susceptible group to infection. JD spreads within the herd both vertically and horizontally, it characterizes by a slow spread and prolonged incubation period. The disease has a negative impact on dairy farms because daily milk yield and basic milk components (protein and total fat solids) are reduced.

Lucas Pantaleon

Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP) is a bacteria that infects dairy cattle (and other ruminants) causing paratuberculosis or Johne’s disease. This disease leads to production losses in dairies all over the world. Infected cattle shed the bacterium in feces and the microorganisms are able to persist in the environment for long periods of time. Fecal slurry used as fertilizer on pasture or for crop production is a risk for MAP transmission to other cows by pasturing or reintroduction of the bacteria by feedstuffs such as grass silage or hay.