INVESTIGATION ON THE OCCURRENCE AND PATHOLOGY OF PARATUBERCULOSIS (JOHNE’S DISEASE) IN APPARENTLY HEALTHY CATTLE SLAUGHTERED AT ELFORA EXPORT ABATTOIR BISHOFTU, ETHIOPIA
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2014-06
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Abstract
A cross sectional study was conducted from October 2013 to June 2014 in apparently healthy cattle at Bishoftu ELFORA export abattoir to investigate the occurrence and pathology of paratuberculosis (Johne’s disease) and isolation of its causative agent. The occurrence of paratuberculosis was investigated using histopathology, bacteriological culture and acid-fast staining. Of the 400 animals examined a total of 45 tissue samples illustrating gross pathological lesions from the last portion of the small intestine, ileocecal valve and associated lymph nodes were collected. Tissue sections from the 45 ilea and associated lymph nodes were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). The occurrence of the disease was 17.8 % (95% CI=6.1-29.4) using histopathology. Grading from I-IV of histopathological lesions based on the type and amount of cellular infiltrate revealed that most of the positive cases were in grades I (8.9%) and II (6.7%). 45 tissue samples from ileum and associated lymph nodes were cultured on modified Herrolds egg Yolk and Lowesten-Jensen medium with and without mycobactin J. Results of the culture revealed 11.1% (95% CI=1.6-20.6) were positive and isolated as Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis. Isolated colonies were confirmed by mycobactin dependence, ZN staining and their long incubation period. When acid-fast staining of 45 ileum and associated lymph nodes were implemented the occurrence of the disease was 13.3% (95%CI=3%-23.6%). The occurrence of the disease among age group were significantly different using histopathology (P=0.002) and culture (P=0.012). The present study on paratuberculosis in cattle using histopathology, mycobactin J supplemented culture and acid-fast staining revealed the occurrence of paratuberculosis in apparently healty cattle in Ethiopia and it is interesting to note that this is the first study on paratuberculosis in cattle in Ethiopia that showed the occurrence and isolation of its causative agent Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis. The results strongly suggest the need to investigate on the distribution and economic significance of the disease at the national level in order to develop rational methods of control strategies.
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Acid fast stain, Cattle, Culture, Histopathology