Identification of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis infection in industrial dairy farms of Hamedan

Mahmoodi Koohi, Pezhman; Sadeghi-nasab, Ali; Mohammadzadeh, Abdol Majid; Sharifi, Aram; Bahari, Ali Asghar; Mosavari, Nader

doi:10.22055/ivj.2017.67340.1832

Identification of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis infection in industrial dairy farms of Hamedan

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

¹ Assistant Professor, Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran

² Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran

³ PhD Graduated of Bacteriology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran

⁴ Associate Professor, Reference Laboratory for Bovine Tuberculosis, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Karaj, Iran

10.22055/ivj.2017.67340.1832

Abstract

Abstract
John’s disease is a chronic intestinal infection which is caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Map) and imposes huge economic losses to farms. The aim of the present study was to detect infection by this bacterium in industrial farms of Hamedan. During the years 2015-2016, 150 fecal samples from apparently healthy and suspected cattle were collected and examined using direct microscopic and Nested-PCR assays. The results obtained from examination of fecal samples with Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining showed that 8 samples (5.33%) were infected with the causative agent of the disease. While, using Nested-PCR assay, 39 and 9 samples were found to be positive in apparently healthy and suspected cattle, respectively. However, no significant difference was statistically observed between the numbers of positive cases in these two groups (0.05<P). Thus, 48 (32%) out of 150 fecal samples were totally infected with M. avium subsp. Paratuberculosis which relatively shows a high infection rate. Therefore, it is suggested to eliminate infected animals and take proper management and hygiene measures in order to control the infection and prevent its prevalence to other animals and herds. To our knowledge, the present study is the first report which confirms paratuberculosis in industrial farms of Hamedan.

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