Johne's disease (pronounced Yoh-nees) or TB infection affects all ruminant animals (Cattle, Sheep, Goats, Deer, Elk, Bison, etc). This contagioug disease spreads from cows to sheep to goats etc. and infects the GI tract. Johne's is caused by a bacteria named Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis or MAP for short. Animals pass infection to others from fecal contaminated ground, udders, etc. or in advanced stages can be transmitted through milk or in-utero. Infection usually occurs in young animals though symptoms of infection do not usually present until the animal is an adult when a once normally healthy animal suddenly becomes sick showing rapid weight loss and/or diarrhea despite a normal appetite.
One animal can infect a whole herd or premises. Keeping Johne's from your herd can be accomplished by testing your herd to know the status, or purchasing animals from TB free herds. Maintaining (birthing and raising) offspring away from Johne's infected animals and areas. To date there is no affective antibiotic to treat or cure infected animals so maintaining a TB free herd/premise is important.
Eagle Talon offers screening testing for antibodies to MAP with the IDEXX ELISA test for samples collected from serum, plasma or milk.
More information about Johne's/TB can be found on our Johne's info page. |