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Intrauterine and transmammary transmission of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis in sheep
Author(s) -
LAMBETH C,
REDDACLIFF LA,
WINDSOR P,
ABBOTT KA,
McGREGOR H,
WHITTINGTON RJ
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
australian veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1751-0813
pISSN - 0005-0423
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2004.tb11171.x
Subject(s) - paratuberculosis , histopathology , flock , biology , transmission (telecommunications) , serology , mycobacterium , immunology , medicine , pathology , antibody , bacteria , paleontology , genetics , electrical engineering , engineering
Objective To investigate intrauterine infection of foetuses with Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis and the presence of infection in mammary secretions of sheep. Design A study of 142 late‐pregnant ewes and their foetuses from two heavily infected flocks. Procedure Infection of ewes was determined at necropsy by histopathology and culture of tissues and mammary secretions. Antemortem tests (clinical assessment, faecal culture and serology) were also applied. Foetuses from 59 infected ewes and 47 apparently uninfected ewes were examined by culture and histopathology. Results Five of five ewes with clinical ovine Johne's disease had infected foetuses. Only one of 54 subclinically affected ewes, and none of 47 uninfected ewes had an infected foetus. M a paratuberculosis was cultured from mammary secretions or mammary glands of only two of 76 ewes, both of which were clinical cases and had infected foetuses. Conclusion Although intrauterine or transmammary transmission of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis may occur frequently in clinically affected sheep, these are less common in subclinically infected ewes. Therefore these modes of transmission are unlikely to compromise existing control programs for ovine Johne's disease on most farms, especially if programs include the immediate culling of clinically affected sheep.