Knowledge gaps that hamper prevention and control of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infection

Authors: BARKEMA, HERMAN - University Of Calgary; ORSEL, KARIN - University Of Calgary; NIELSEN, SOREN - University Of Copenhagen; KOETS, AD - Utrecht University; RUTTEN, VICTOR - Utrecht University; Bannantine, John; KEEFE, GREG - University Of Prince Edward Island; KELTON, DAVID - University Of Guelph; WELLS, SCOTT - University Of Minnesota; WHITTINGTON, RICHARD - University Of Sydney; MACKINTOSH, COLIN - Agresearch; MANNING, ELIZABETH - University Of Wisconsin; WEBER, MAARTEN - Gd Animal Health Service; HEUER, CORD - Massey University; FORDE, TAYA - University Of Calgary; RITTER, CAROLINE - University Of Calgary; ROCHE, STEVEN - University Of Guelph; CORBETT, CAROLINE - University Of Calgary; WOLF, ROBERT - University Of Calgary; KASTELIC, JOHN - University Of Calgary; DE BUCK, JEROEN - University Of Calgary

Submitted to: Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2017
Publication Date: 9/22/2017
Citation: Barkema, H.W., Orsel, K., Nielsen, S.S., Koets, A.P., Rutten, V.P., Bannantine, J.P., Keefe, G.P., Kelton, D.F., Wells, S.J., Whittington, R.J., Mackintosh, C.G., Manning, E.J., Weber, M.F., Heuer, C., Forde, T., Ritter, C., Roche, S., Corbett, C., Wolf, R., Kastelic, J.P., De Buck, J. 2017. Knowledge gaps that hamper prevention and control of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infection. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases. 65(Suppl. 1) 125-148. https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.12723.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.12723

Interpretive Summary: Johne's disease in farmed livestock is notoriously difficult to control. The disease spreads easily and is difficult to detect. Countries have tried to implement control programs for this disease, but have had limited success in lowering the incidence. Control programs center on identifying infected animals and removing them by culling. Animal producers have adapted additional management strategies to prevent future outbreaks. This review article examines factors contributing to disease dynamics and transmission on farms and between farms. In addition, areas of research needed to close knowledge gaps are identified. This article is intended for researchers working in the field, animal producers and veterinarians.

Technical Abstract: In the last decades, many regional and country-wide control programs for JD were developed due to economic losses caused by Johne’s disease (JD), or because of possible association with Crohn’s disease. These control programs were often not successful, partly because management protocols were not followed, tests to identify infected animals were unreliable, and introduction of infected replacement cattle was allowed. In the absence of a cure or effective commercial vaccines, control of JD is primarily based on herd management strategies to avoid initial infection of calves and restrict within farm and farm-to-farm transmission. Although JD control programs have been implemented in most developed countries, lessons learned from JD prevention and control programs are underreported. Also, JD control programs are typically evaluated in a limited number of herds and the duration of the study is less than 5 y, making it difficult to adequately assess efficacy of control programs. In this manuscript, we identify the most pressing gaps in knowledge hampering JD prevention and control programs. Secondly, we discuss directions that research should take to address those knowledge gaps.