EXOone Paratuberculosis

Description

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the etiologic agent of paratuberculosis in several animal species, especially ruminant, with worldwide occurrence. Manifestations of the disease are weight loss, reduced milk production, infertility and, in later stages, emaciation and diarrhea.
MAP control is hampered due to ineffective diagnosis, particularly in subclinically infected animal population. Other diagnostic tests, such as ELISA and fecal culture, are being used commonly. Though fecal culture is considered the gold standard, the method is time-consuming (6–8 weeks). Moreover, serological tests in apparently healthy or subclinically infected animals frequently give rise to false negative results. PCR methods increases specificity and sensitivity of diagnosis, as well as it reduces the time required for diagnosis.