M ycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis Sheep Strains Isolated from Cyprus Sheep and Goats

Summary Paratuberculosis, caused by M ycobacterium avium subsp.  paratuberculosis ( M ap), is a chronic incurable infection of intestinal tract of animals. Molecular characterization of M ap isolates classifies them into two major groups, ‘ C attle’ or Type II and ‘ S heep’ or T ype I / III with a different phenotype, epidemiology, virulence and pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to examine 192 M ap ELISA ‐positive sheep and goats from C yprus using faecal culture and genotype M ap isolates using IS 1311 PCR and restriction endonuclease analysis ( IS 1311 PCR ‐ REA ) with H inf I restriction enzyme. Map was isolated from only four (4.6%) faecal samples out of 88 sheep and 15 (14.4%) faecal samples out of 104 goats. Genotyping of the isolates using IS 1311 PCR ‐ REA revealed that sheep and goat populations on the island are infected primarily by ‘ S heep’ strains. Only three M ap isolates from goats originated from one farm were characterized as ‘ C attle’ strains.