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Paratuberculosis in free-ranging fallow deer in Spain
Ignasi Marco1, Maria Ruiz, Ramon Juste
1Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge, Facultat de Veterinaria, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193-Bellaterra, Spain. Ignasi.Marco@uab.es
Journal of Wildlife Diseases
|September 20, 2002
Summary
Paratuberculosis was diagnosed in Spanish fallow deer using postmortem exams and bacterial culture. However, blood tests did not detect antibodies, suggesting widespread infection may not be evident serologically.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Wildlife Health
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Paratuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis.
- Fallow deer populations can be affected by paratuberculosis, impacting animal health and potentially spreading to other species.
- Understanding the prevalence and diagnostic challenges of paratuberculosis in free-ranging wildlife is crucial for disease management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To diagnose paratuberculosis in a free-ranging fallow deer population in Spain.
- To investigate the utility of different diagnostic methods, including culture and serology, for paratuberculosis detection in this species.
Main Methods:
- Postmortem examination and histopathology were performed on suspect animals.
- Bacterial culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to identify Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis.
- Indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunodiffusion tests were conducted on deer sera.
Main Results:
- Paratuberculosis was diagnosed in 5 out of 8 deer exhibiting diarrhea, confirmed by gross lesions and histopathology.
- Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis was successfully cultured and identified by PCR in two diagnosed deer.
- All 33 adult fallow deer tested serologically were negative for paratuberculosis antibodies.
Conclusions:
- Paratuberculosis is present in the studied fallow deer population.
- Diagnostic challenges exist, as serological tests did not detect antibodies in infected animals.
- Further research is needed to understand the dynamics of paratuberculosis infection and optimize diagnostic strategies in wildlife.