%0 Journal Article
%T Detection of Antibodies and Confirmation of Mycobacterium avium Subspecies paratuberculosis Using Nested PCR in Bulk Milk Samples from Nakasongola and Sembabule Districts, Uganda
%A Julius Boniface Okuni
%A Tony Oyo
%A Magid Kisekka
%A Sylvester Ochwo
%A David Kalenzi Atuhaire
%A Mathias Afayoa
%A William Olaho-Mukani
%A Lonzy Ojok
%J ISRN Veterinary Science
%D 2013
%R 10.1155/2013/369730
%X Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) is an emerging pathogen in many livestock and wildlife populations around the world. Concerns range from the serious economic impacts on livestock productivity to its suspected role in the human inflammatory bowel disease syndrome. Milk and faeces of infected animals are the main vehicles through which the organism spreads from infected to susceptible hosts. In this study, a survey was done in Nakasongola and Sembabule districts of Uganda involving a total of seven dairy collection centres to determine the prevalence of antibodies to MAP in bulk milk samples. The milk was tested with a commercial ELISA kit for MAP testing in milk. Positive and suspicious milk samples were further tested using nested PCR. Of the 257 milk samples tested, 11 (4.3%) were positive and five (1.9%) were suspicious. All the ELISA positive and suspicious milk samples were positive using nested PCR. The results show that MAP infection occurs in cattle from the two districts and highlight the need for a paratuberculosis control program in these and other districts where MAP infection has been reported. 1. Introduction Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) causes Johne¡¯s disease or paratuberculosis in ruminants and some nonruminants [1]. Infected animals develop the disease over a period of one to several years [1¨C3]. During the course of time the animal begins to shed the organism in its faeces and milk which enables transmission to susceptible animals through ingestion of contaminated milk or fodder [2]. Paratuberculosis is a great concern in dairy cattle and other farmed ruminants especially under intensive systems, in which it leads to deaths, early culling, and production losses, among others [2]. Prevalence of MAP in infected cattle has been determined by serological testing of serum and milk; culture of the organism from faeces and tissues; and histopathology and PCR on tissues, faeces, and milk [1]. Initial studies involving milk were primarily for determination of prevalence of infection in cattle, but focus has now turned to the public health significance of MAP shedding into the milk [4]. There have been ongoing debates on the role of MAP in the aetiology of Crohn¡¯s disease of man [5¨C9]. Although the causal effects of MAP on Crohn¡¯s disease are not proven beyond doubt, the suspicion has led to concerns about the zoonotic potential of MAP and that MAP should be considered one of the food borne pathogens [10, 11]. Several reports indicate that MAP can survive pasteurisation [12, 13]. This means that
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.veterinary.science/2013/369730/