Isolation of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis after oral inoculation in uninfected cattle

Feces from cows naturally infected with Mycobacterium paratuberculosis was given to 6 uninfected heifers by orogastric intubation, to determine whether ingested organisms could be passively excreted and detected by bacteriologic culture of feces (ie, false-positive result). Heifers were paired, and each pair received a different dose of feces on days 1 and 2. Fecal samples were collected from the heifers 3 times daily. Mycobacterium paratuberculosis was detected in fecal samples of all heifers within 18 hours of being given the first dose of feces. The number of colony-forming units peaked on days 3 or 4, and organisms were no longer detected by day 7. The number of colony-forming units in fecal samples from the heifers was approximately proportional to the dose given. On days 15 and 16, the experiment was repeated with feces from a second infected cow. Results were similar to those in the first experiment. All heifers remained seronegative (agar-gel immunodiffusion test and ELISA) and had negative results to the intradermal johnin test throughout the experiment. Lymph node and intestinal tissues were obtained from all 6 heifers at slaughter on day 28. Mycobacterium paratuberculosis was not isolated from mesenteric lymph nodes from the ileocecal valve region, but was isolated from ileal mucosal samples from each heifer.