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Roller M, Hansen S, Böhlken-Fascher S, Knauf-Witzens T, Czerny CP, Goethe R, Abd El Wahed A. Molecular and Serological Footprints of Mycobacterium avium Subspecies Infections in Zoo Animals. Vet Sci 2020; 7:vetsci7030117. [PMID: 32842515 PMCID: PMC7558821 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci7030117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Mycobacteria of the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) pose a significant risk to zoological collections. Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) is a member of MAC and the causative agent of Johne’s disease. Despite many reports in animals kept in zoological gardens, systemic surveillance has rarely been reported. Methods: In this study, archived serum samples collected from animal species at the Wilhelma Zoological and Botanical Gardens in Stuttgart, Germany, were screened for the presence of antibodies against MAC and MAP. In addition, molecular investigations were performed on necropsy, fecal, and environmental samples. Results: In total, 30/381 serum samples of various mammalian species were positive for MAC antibodies in ELISA, while one sample of a reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) was positive in MAP-specific ELISA. Samples from many species were positive in pan-Mycobacterium real-time PCR (40/43 fecal samples, 27/43 environmental samples, and 31/90 necropsy samples). Surprisingly, no sample was positive in the MAP-specific molecular assays. However, two environmental samples from primate enclosures were positive in Mycobacterium avium subspecies hominissuis (MAH)-specific real-time PCR. Conclusions: The results reveal serological indications of MAC infections in the zoological collection. However, the presence of a MAP-contaminated environment by a high-shedding individual animal or MAP-infected population is unlikely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Roller
- Wilhelma Zoological-Botanical Gardens Stuttgart, Wilhelma 13, D-70376 Stuttgart, Germany; (M.R.); (T.K.-W.)
- Department of Animal Sciences, Division of Microbiology and Animal Hygiene, Faculty of Agricultural Science, Georg-August-University, Burckhardtweg 2, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany; (S.H.); (S.B.-F.); (C.-P.C.)
- Institute for Microbiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, D-30173 Hannover, Germany;
| | - Sören Hansen
- Department of Animal Sciences, Division of Microbiology and Animal Hygiene, Faculty of Agricultural Science, Georg-August-University, Burckhardtweg 2, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany; (S.H.); (S.B.-F.); (C.-P.C.)
| | - Susanne Böhlken-Fascher
- Department of Animal Sciences, Division of Microbiology and Animal Hygiene, Faculty of Agricultural Science, Georg-August-University, Burckhardtweg 2, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany; (S.H.); (S.B.-F.); (C.-P.C.)
| | - Tobias Knauf-Witzens
- Wilhelma Zoological-Botanical Gardens Stuttgart, Wilhelma 13, D-70376 Stuttgart, Germany; (M.R.); (T.K.-W.)
| | - Claus-Peter Czerny
- Department of Animal Sciences, Division of Microbiology and Animal Hygiene, Faculty of Agricultural Science, Georg-August-University, Burckhardtweg 2, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany; (S.H.); (S.B.-F.); (C.-P.C.)
| | - Ralph Goethe
- Institute for Microbiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, D-30173 Hannover, Germany;
| | - Ahmed Abd El Wahed
- Department of Animal Sciences, Division of Microbiology and Animal Hygiene, Faculty of Agricultural Science, Georg-August-University, Burckhardtweg 2, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany; (S.H.); (S.B.-F.); (C.-P.C.)
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 43, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-176-6136-0325
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Fechner K, Dreymann N, Schimkowiak S, Czerny CP, Teitzel J. Efficacy of dairy on-farm high-temperature, short-time pasteurization of milk on the viability of Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis. J Dairy Sci 2019; 102:11280-11290. [PMID: 31563303 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2019-16590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Feeding pasteurized milk to suckling calves is a popular practice used increasingly on dairy farms. Waste milk is frequently fed to calves because of its high nutritional value and economic benefits compared to milk replacement products. However, one of the disadvantages of feeding waste milk is the potential for exposure to a high number of bacterial contaminants, which may lead to serious illnesses or infections in calves. One of these contaminants is Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP), the causative agent of Johne's disease (paratuberculosis). The transmission and distribution of paratuberculosis in dairy herds occurs mostly through the feeding newborn calves with contaminated colostrum or milk, because this age group is believed to be most susceptible to infection. To reduce the risk of transmission of pathogens, on-farm pasteurization of milk has become increasingly popular. In this study, we analyzed the efficacy of a new commercial high-temperature, short-time pasteurizer (73.5°C for 20 to 25 s) in terms of MAP inactivation under experimental on-farm conditions. The pasteurizer uses a newly developed steam-heating technique, allowing for the pasteurization of the transition milk without clumping. In 3 independent trials, we spiked fresh raw milk samples to a level of 107 or 104 viable MAP cells/mL before pasteurization. We examined the thermal inactivation and viability of MAP using culture and a D29 bacteriophage-based assay. To verify the identity and number of MAP cells, we also performed PCR assays. Pasteurization of the inoculated milk (107 and 104 MAP cells/mL) resulted in a remarkable reduction in viable MAP cells. The mean inactivation rate of MAP ranged from 0.82 to 2.65 log10 plaque-forming units/mL, depending on the initial MAP amount inoculated and the addition of conservative agents to the pasteurized milk. Nevertheless, approximately 103 MAP cells/mL remained viable and could be transferred to calves after high-temperature, short-time pasteurization of milk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Fechner
- Division of Microbiology and Animal Hygiene, Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Göttingen, 37077 Germany
| | - Nico Dreymann
- Division of Microbiology and Animal Hygiene, Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Göttingen, 37077 Germany
| | - Sebastian Schimkowiak
- Division of Microbiology and Animal Hygiene, Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Göttingen, 37077 Germany
| | - Claus-Peter Czerny
- Division of Microbiology and Animal Hygiene, Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Göttingen, 37077 Germany
| | - Jenny Teitzel
- Division of Microbiology and Animal Hygiene, Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Göttingen, 37077 Germany.
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DETECTION OF MYCOBACTERIUM AVIUM SUBSPECIES PARATUBERCULOSIS IN ROCK HYRAXES ( PROCAVIA CAPENSIS) IMPORTED FROM SOUTH AFRICA. J Zoo Wildl Med 2019; 48:1086-1094. [PMID: 29297824 DOI: 10.1638/1042-7260-48.4.1086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) causes chronic, progressive, and consecutively fatal enteritis, especially in ruminants. MAP distribution among wildlife is not yet clear. In this study, three wild-born rock hyraxes ( Procavia capensis) had been imported from South Africa to a German zoological garden. During the quarantine period, four young animals were born. The wild-born animals showed symptoms of mild diarrhea shortly after their arrival in the zoological garden, but all routine parasitological and bacteriologic tests performed were negative. Therefore, the animals were additionally tested for MAP infection. MAP DNA was detected by seminested PCR (snPCR) in a pooled fecal sample of the seven animals. Subsequent PCR analysis of the individual feces samples confirmed the excretion of MAP in two rock hyraxes (one wild-born and one born in captivity). Sequence analysis of the corresponding 278-bp amplicons revealed 100% homology to the reference MAP-K10 IS900 sequence. No antibody response against MAP was detected in the individual serum samples. MAP-specific postmortem lesions were not observed by gross pathology and histology, neither after death nor after euthanization of the animals. Nevertheless, MAP was detected by snPCR and culture in the gastrointestinal tract, urogenital tract, cardiovascular system, and/or respiratory system of three other animals of the group (one wild-born and two born in captivity). This study is the first report confirming MAP occurrence in rock hyraxes. Therefore, it is recommended that veterinarians and zoo employees consider rock hyraxes as a possible source of MAP infection for domestic livestock in South Africa and the valuable animal stock of zoological facilities.
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Hansen S, Schäfer J, Fechner K, Czerny CP, Abd El Wahed A. Development of a Recombinase Polymerase Amplification Assay for Rapid Detection of the Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0168733. [PMID: 27992571 PMCID: PMC5167419 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) infections in ruminants is crucial to control spread among animals and to humans. Cultivation of MAP is seen as the gold standard for detection, although it is very time consuming and labour intensive. In addition, several PCR assays have been developed to detect MAP in around 90 minutes, but these assays required highly sophisticated equipment as well as lengthy and complicated procedure. Methodology/Principal Findings In this study, we have developed a rapid assay for the detection of MAP based on the recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) assay targeting a MAP specific region, the IS900 gene. The detection limit was 16 DNA molecules in 15 minutes as determined by the probit analysis on eight runs of the plasmid standard. Cross reactivity with other mycobacterial and environmentally associated bacterial strains was not observed. The clinical performance of the MAP RPA assay was tested using 48 MAP-positive and 20 MAP-negative blood, sperm, faecal and tissue samples. All results were compared with reads of a highly sensitive real-time PCR assay. The specificity of the MAP RPA assay was 100%, while the sensitivity was 89.5%. Conclusions/Significance The RPA assay is quicker and much easier to handle than real-time PCR. All RPA reagents were cold-chain independent. Moreover, combining RPA assay with a simple extraction protocol will maximize its use at point of need for rapid detection of MAP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sören Hansen
- Division of Microbiology and Animal Hygiene, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Georg-August University, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Jenny Schäfer
- Division of Microbiology and Animal Hygiene, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Georg-August University, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Kim Fechner
- Division of Microbiology and Animal Hygiene, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Georg-August University, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Claus-Peter Czerny
- Division of Microbiology and Animal Hygiene, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Georg-August University, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Ahmed Abd El Wahed
- Division of Microbiology and Animal Hygiene, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Georg-August University, Goettingen, Germany
- * E-mail: ,
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Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis detection in animals, food, water and other sources or vehicles of human exposure: A scoping review of the existing evidence. Prev Vet Med 2016; 132:32-48. [PMID: 27664446 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2016.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Revised: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis is the etiologic agent of Johne's disease in ruminants and is hypothesized to be an infectious cause of Crohn's disease, as well as some other human diseases. Due to key knowledge gaps, the potential public health impact of M. paratuberculosis is unknown. This scoping review aims to identify and characterised the evidence on potential sources and vehicles of M. paratuberculosis exposure for humans to better understand how exposure is likely to occur. Evidence from 255 primary research papers is summarized; most examined the prevalence or concentration of M. paratuberculosis in animals (farmed domestic, pets and wildlife) (n=148), food for human consumption (62) (milk, dairy, meat, infant formula) or water (drinking and recreational) and the environment (farm, pasture and areas affected by runoff water) (20). The majority of this research has been published since 2000 (Figure- abstract). Nine case-control studies examining risk factors for Crohn's disease highlighted significant associations with the consumption of processed meats and cheese, while direct contact with ruminants, high risk occupations (farmer, veterinarian), milk consumption and water source were factors not associated with the disease and/or M. paratuberculosis exposure status. Molecular epidemiology studies demonstrated strain-sharing between species. Produce and seafood were the only previously suggested sources of human exposure for which there was no supporting evidence identified in this scoping review. The results of this review indicate that ruminant populations from around the globe are infected with M. paratuberculosis and many non-ruminant species have also been found to carry or be infected with M. paratuberculosis. Several potential sources for human exposure to M. paratuberculosis were identified; however there remain important gaps in quantitative information on the prevalence and concentration of M. paratuberculosis in contaminated sources of exposure. This information is critical to understanding the risk of exposure, opportunities for risk mitigation interventions and modelling exposures to distill the importance of various sources of human exposure to M. paratuberculosis including direct contact with animals and the environment as well as consumption of contaminated foods and water. Results of this study may be used to prioritize future research and to support evidence-informed decision-making on the M. paratuberculosis issue.
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Fechner K, Schäfer J, Wiegel C, Ludwig J, Münster P, Sharifi AR, Wemheuer W, Czerny CP. Distribution of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in a Subclinical Naturally Infected German Fleckvieh Bull. Transbound Emerg Dis 2015; 64:916-928. [PMID: 26671341 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Although it has been known for years that Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is detectable in the reproductive organs and semen of infected bulls, only few studies have been conducted on this topic worldwide. This study surveyed the MAP status of a bull, naturally infected due to close contact with its subclinically infected parents over a period of 4 years. From the age of 7 weeks to necropsy, faecal, blood and, after sexual maturity, semen samples were drawn repeatedly. Already at the first sampling day, MAP-DNA was detected in faeces by semi-nested PCR. True infection was confirmed by the detection of MAP-DNA in blood at the age of 40 weeks. In total, MAP-DNA was present in 25% faecal (34/139), 16% blood (23/140) and 5% semen (4/89) samples, including MAP-free intervals of up to 9 weeks. MAP genome equivalents (MAP-GE) of up to 6.3 × 106 /g faeces and 1.8 × 105 /ml blood were determined. Cultivation of MAP occurred only in three of 137 faecal and two of 109 blood, but never in semen samples. Over the whole period, the bull was a serological negative MAP shedder. During necropsy, 42 tissue samples were collected. Neither macroscopic nor histological lesions characteristic of a MAP infection were observed. Cultivation of MAP in tissue sections failed. However, MAP-DNA was spread widely in the host, including in tissues of the lymphatic system (7/15), digestive tract (5/14) and the urogenital tract (5/9) with concentrations of up to 3.9 × 106 MAP-GE/g tissue. The study highlighted the detection of MAP in male reproductive organs and semen. It supports the hypothesis that bulls may probably transmit MAP, at least under natural mating conditions. In artificial insemination, this might not be relevant, due to antibiotics included currently in semen extenders. However, the survivability of MAP in this microenvironment should be investigated in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Fechner
- Division of Microbiology and Animal Hygiene, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - J Schäfer
- Division of Microbiology and Animal Hygiene, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - C Wiegel
- Division of Microbiology and Animal Hygiene, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - J Ludwig
- Division of Microbiology and Animal Hygiene, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - P Münster
- Division of Microbiology and Animal Hygiene, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - A R Sharifi
- Division of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - W Wemheuer
- Division of Reproduction and Biotechnology, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - C-P Czerny
- Division of Microbiology and Animal Hygiene, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
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Detection of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis by IS900-based PCR assays from an alpaca (Vicugna pacos) kept in a German zoological garden. J Zoo Wildl Med 2013; 44:176-80. [PMID: 23505723 DOI: 10.1638/1042-7260-44.1.176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
An alpaca (Vicugna pacos) bred and kept in a German zoological garden exhibited clinical signs consistent with paratuberculosis. The presence of Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) was confirmed in feces and in the ileocecal lymph node (ILN) by IS900-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays and culture. A bacterial burden of 7.6 x 10(6) MAP/g in feces and 4.4 x 10(7) MAP/g in lymph node tissue was determined by real-time PCR. For further characterization, a conventional PCR was developed. After sequencing of the 864-bp PCR amplicon covering nucleotide positions 13 to 876 within the IS900, the alpaca isolate shared 100% nucleotide homology with the bovine MAP-K10 IS900 reference sequence (GenBank: AE16958), indicating a cattle strain. This report supports the present occurrence of MAP in German camelid populations and highlights the need to expand routine MAP surveillance to South American camelids held in European zoos.
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Münster P, Fechner K, Völkel I, von Buchholz A, Czerny CP. Distribution of Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis in a German zoological garden determined by IS900 semi-nested and quantitative real-time PCR. Vet Microbiol 2012; 163:116-23. [PMID: 23298700 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2012.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2012] [Revised: 12/04/2012] [Accepted: 12/06/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Little data concerning the distribution of Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) in zoological gardens is available. The presence of MAP in captured wildlife might provide further information on non-ruminant hosts and expand the list of animals susceptible to MAP being potential sources of MAP transmission. Therefore, a German zoological garden with recent history of clinical paratuberculosis in Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) and an alpaca (Lama pacos) was selected to estimate the distribution of MAP infections in 21 mammalian and avian species. Pooled faecal samples from individual animals of each species were tested for the presence of MAP. A previously developed IS900 semi-nested PCR (snPCR) assay, amplifying a 587 bp and a 278 bp fragment, was used for the detection of MAP-DNA. Based on this snPCR, in 14 out of the 21 pooled faecal samples MAP-DNA was detected. MAP positive snPCR results were observed in ruminants and camelids as well as in non-ruminants such as equines, primates, rodents, and birds. Moreover, a quantitative real-time PCR demonstrated that the concentration of MAP-DNA was within the range of 2.2 × 10(3)-9.6 × 10(6) MAP-DNA equivalents per gram faeces. The highest amount was shed by primates such as Black-and-white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata) and Cottontop tamarins (Saguinus oedipus). This is the first survey investigating the presence of MAP in a German zoo, which includes non-ruminants. The results of the present study confirm the wide host range of MAP and demonstrate that MAP occurs more frequently in zoo animals than expected. In order to restrict further spread of MAP in European zoos, additional investigations regarding the existing transmission pathways of MAP in zoos are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia Münster
- Department of Animal Sciences, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Division of Microbiology and Animal Hygiene, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Georg-August-University, Burckhardtweg 2, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
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Münster P, Völkel I, Wemheuer W, Schwarz D, Döring S, Czerny CP. A longitudinal study to characterize the distribution patterns of Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis in semen, blood and faeces of a naturally infected bull by IS 900 semi-nested and quantitative real-time PCR. Transbound Emerg Dis 2012; 60:175-87. [PMID: 22571476 DOI: 10.1111/j.1865-1682.2012.01336.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Johne's disease is caused by Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) and has been recognized as an important bacterial infection in ruminants. Although MAP has been detected in semen and within the reproductive organs of bulls, the bacterial distribution and shedding patterns are currently not well characterized. Our investigation was performed to detect and quantify MAP in faeces, semen and blood samples repeatedly drawn from a naturally infected but asymptomatic 18-month-old German Simmental breeding bull candidate over a period of 3 years (June 2007-November 2010). Qualitative and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques were used to correlate the presence and matrix-specific amounts of MAP. In total, 65 sampling dates were selected. Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis was detected intermittently in all matrices with MAP-free intervals of up to 18 weeks by an IS900 semi-nested PCR. The number of MAP-positive results from semen and blood samples was higher than from faecal samples. A quantitative polymerase chain reaction detected the highest MAP contents in faeces (10(3) -10(6) MAP/g), while lower amounts were found in semen and blood samples (10(2) -10(5) MAP/ml). Although no significant agreement was calculated between the presence of MAP in faeces and blood, a statistically significant positive correlation between its occurrence in semen and blood was determined (r = 0.38, P < 0.05, n = 29). The present study contributes to a more detailed understanding of MAP distribution patterns in faeces, semen and blood of a subclinically infected breeding bull candidate. It highlights the possible role of breeding bulls as a source of MAP transmission and indicates the need for further monitoring and hygienic measures to prevent the spread of the infection via semen.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Münster
- Department of Animal Sciences, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Division of Microbiology and Animal Hygiene, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Georg-August-University, Burckhardtweg, Göttingen, Germany
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