Johne’s disease is an untreatable, chronic, progressive bacterial intestinal disease of cattle caused
by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis or MAP. A study conducted in 2009 by Good et al.
estimated that the prevalence of Johne’s disease in Ireland is 20% in dairy herds and 6% in beef herds.
The disease is characterised by scour, reduced production – lower milk yields and feed conversion, weight
loss leading to emaciation, soft swelling of the jaw or brisket (bottle jaw), and eventually death.
An infected animal can shed MAP bacteria over a long period and infect others before developing clinical signs
of the disease. Calves and young animals are particularly susceptible to infection so it is therefore important to
identify infectious animals and remove them from the herd as part of a control strategy.
MAP Test
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MAP antibody ELISA on a blood sample
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MAP antibody ELISA on an individual milk sample
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MAP PCR on a faecal sample (antigen detection)
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Additional Information:
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Johne's disease is notifiable in Ireland since 1956.
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It is advisable to allow three months after a TB test before sampling for a Johne’s test.