Distribution of paratuberculosis in Wisconsin, by soil regions

A study was undertaken to determine the relationship between concentration of paratuberculosis-infected herds and soil types in Wisconsin. Locations of farms on which paratuberculosis had occurred between 1971 and 1975 were obtained from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture. The disease occurred mainly in the rolling and undulating areas. Fifty percent of the infection herds were in the southwestern "driftless area" and the southeast uplands; 43% occurred in the western part of the northern silty and loamy uplands; the other 7% were scattered in the east and east-central part of the state. The disease did not necessarily occur in the areas of high cattle concentration. It was concluded that the disease persisted in regions with acid soils but not in regions with alkaline, calcereous soils.