Paratuberculosis in small ruminants, deer, and South American camelids

Paratuberculosis in small ruminants is widespread geographically. In some herds and flocks, clinical paratuberculosis, which primarily causes long-term weight loss, can be a significant cause of culling. The effects of subclinical disease are less defined, but they may include decreased milk production in milking sheep and decreased weight gain in deer raised for slaughter. Paratuberculosis also can cause economic losses due to reduced sales of breeding animals from purebred flocks and herds. Diagnosis in goats, deer, and SACs is based primarily on feces or tissue culture and histopathologic examination. Because of the difficulty in growing sheep strains of M. paratuberculosis, diagnosis is based on finding compatible histopathologic lesions with acid-fast organisms. The AGID is a highly specific serologic test for diagnosis of clinical paratuberculosis that correlates with fecal shedding of organisms and degree of severity of lesions; however, it is less sensitive than fecal culture at the herd level for detection of subclinical disease. The CF test detects clinically affected animals but yields poor specificity. The ELISA test is being evaluated for use as a herd screening test in sheep, goats, and SACs. The test seems to be as sensitive as the AGID test but shows a lack of specificity in herds and flocks infected with caseous lymphadenitis. Absorption of sera with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis or Mycobacterium phlei may improve specificity, but more studies are needed. Currently, the ELISA test is best used only as a herd or flock screening tool; its use for diagnosis of individual cases requires confirmation with a more specific serologic test or organism detection test such as fecal culture or PCR. Paratuberculosis can be managed and eliminated by combining stringent management with frequent testing and culling or by combining vaccination (where permitted) with management of fecal-oral transmission. Management of fecal-oral transmission is particularly important to prevent exposure of young stock to the infection. Control programs differ with the goals and economics of each farm. The frequency of testing and level of management intervention are determined by each farm's abilities, priorities, and finances.