Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in a mouflon herd without clinical symptoms monitored using IS900 real-time PCR: a case report

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The aim of this study was to monitor over two years a farmed mouflon herd for the presence and persistence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) using an IS900 real-time PCR method. This study followed the previous monitoring of the herd using a cultivation method which showed only a minimal infection load among the animals. Although no mouflon showed clinical symptoms, 35.7% and 80% of ewes were IS900-positive in 2008 and 2009, respectively. In seven out of 21 adult ewes, the presence of the IS900 sequence was determined in 2008 as well as in 2009. Between the first and second sampling, twenty-three mouflon lambs born and kept with the ewes were examined. Almost one third of them (30.4%) were proven to have the MAP sequence in their faeces. Also, 75% environmental samples from the mouflon farm showed positivity. Infected animals without clinical symptoms which low sensitivity cultivation does not detect represent a source of infection for other animals. Therefore, real-time PCR has a crucial role in paratuberculosis control programs, especially in control of the disease by the culling of infected animals.

Mycobacterium avium Complex in Domestic and Wild Animals

“…RFLP analysis of the IS900 element has been used a molecular tool to type Map isolates and allowed the division of Map into different groups, associated to different host species [3]. The IS900 element is by far the most widely used target for the molecular detection of Map and has been used in the form of direct PCR [108,125], in situ PCR [128] nested PCR [126,129,130], and real-time PCR [131][132][133]. Sequencing of the amplified product for IS900 is therefore necessary to confirm that the amplicon is truly IS900.…”

Isolation of <i>Mycobacterium avium</i> subsp. <i>paratuberculosis</i> from mouflon in Bulgaria

“…It is an obligate intracellular pathogen that can not replicate outside of animal and human hosts [2,16,18]. Characteristics distinguishing MAP from other Mycobacterium species, include its extremely slow growth, its inability to produce the necessary for its growth mycobactin and pos-session of 14-18 copies of the IS900 insertion element in the MAP genome [4,5,20,22].…”

“…In wildlife, paratuberculosis usually occurs subclinically without visible symptoms. The affected animals spread the agent in the environment through faeces and so contaminate soil, pastures and water and may be the source of infection for other animals [2,10,11,18,20].…”

Influence of Stress Connected with Moving to a New Farm on Potentially MAP-Infected Mouflons

“…Paratuberculosis or Johne's disease (JD), caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), is a disease affecting mainly domestic but also wild ruminants, including mouflons ( Ovis musimon ; wild sheep) [ 1 – 3 ]. In wild ruminants, paratuberculosis often manifests subclinically without overt symptoms which makes the disease more concerning from an epidemiological point of view [ 3 , 4 ].…”

“…paratuberculosis (MAP), is a disease affecting mainly domestic but also wild ruminants, including mouflons ( Ovis musimon ; wild sheep) [ 1 – 3 ]. In wild ruminants, paratuberculosis often manifests subclinically without overt symptoms which makes the disease more concerning from an epidemiological point of view [ 3 , 4 ]. During the subclinical as well as clinical phase of the infection, the animals spread the agent into the environment by faecal shedding, where it can act as a source of infection for other animals.…”