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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Bowling Green, Kentucky » Food Animal Environmental Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #240947
Title: Survival of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in Biofilms on Livestock Watering Trough Materials

Author
item BRITT, JENKS - Western Kentucky University
item Cook, Kimberly - Kim
item Rothrock, Michael
item SORRELL, JOHN - Western Kentucky University

Submitted to: American Association of Bovine Practitioners Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/12/2008
Publication Date: 9/26/2008
Citation: Britt, J., Cook, K.L., Rothrock Jr, M.J., Sorrell, J. 2008. Survival of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in Biofilms on Livestock Watering Trough Materials. American Association of Bovine Practitioners Proceedings.

Interpretive Summary: Despite the ubiquitous occurrence of Mycobacterium sp. in nature and the fact that Johne’s disease has been reported worldwide, little research has been done to assess the survival of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) in agricultural environments. In this study, the ability of Map to survive in biofilms on common livestock watering trough materials was evaluated. Map was inoculated into triplicate containers with 32L of trough water and either concrete, plastic, galvanized or stainless steel trough materials. High concentrations(1 X 10e5 cells per cme2) of Map were detected within the biofilms after three days. These results suggest that Map survives well (over 149 days) in biofilms present on trough materials. Trough material composition influenced the survival of Map with the lowest survival exhibited on stainless steel, followed by plastic, galvanized steel and concrete. To inhibit spread of this organism and exposure of susceptible animals to Map on infected farms, best management practices aimed at maintaining biofilm-free trough surfaces should be included in any Johne’s control plan.

Technical Abstract: Despite the ubiquitous occurrence of Mycobacterium sp. in nature and the fact that Johne’s disease has been reported worldwide, little research has been done to assess the survival of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (M. paratuberculosis) in agricultural environments. The goal of this study was to evaluate the ability of M. paratuberculosis to become established and persist in mixed-community biofilms on coupons composed of common livestock watering trough materials. M. paratuberculosis was inoculated into triplicate containers with 32L of trough water and either concrete, plastic, galvanized or stainless steel coupons. The concentration of M. paratuberculosis was determined by using quantitative, real-time PCR to target the IS900 sequence in DNA extracts. High concentrations of M. paratuberculosis were detected within the biofilms after three days. All materials contained M. paratuberculosis concentrations of around 1 X 105 cells per cm2. These results suggest that M. paratuberculosis survives well (over 149 days) in biofilms present on trough materials. Trough material composition influenced the survival of M. paratuberculosis with the lowest survival exhibited on stainless steel, followed by plastic, galvanized steel and concrete.