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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #405744

Research Project: Identification of Antigens and Host Innate Immune Responses for Control of Johne's Disease

Location: Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research

Title: Invited review: improved control of Johne's disease in dairy cattle through advancements in diagnostics, testing and management of young stock

Author
item MARTINS, LARISSA - University Of Calgary
item ORSEL, KARIN - University Of Calgary
item ESHRAGHISAMANI, RAZIEH - University Of Calgary
item HERNANDEZ-AGUDELO, JOSE MUGUEL - Universidad De Chile
item PEREIRA, A. CAROLINE - Universidad De Chile
item SHAUKAT, WASEEM - Universidad De Chile
item KOETS, AD - Utrecht University
item Bannantine, John
item RITTER, CAROLINE - University Of Prince Edward Island
item KELTON, DAVID - University Of Guelph
item WHITTINGTON, RICHARD - University Of Sydney
item WEBER, MAARTEN - Utrecht University
item FACCIUOLO, ANTONIO - University Of Saskatchewan
item DHAND, NAVNEET - University Of Sydney
item DONAT, KARSTEN - Utrecht University
item EISENBERG, SUSANNE - Utrecht University
item SALGADO, MIGUEL - Universidad De Chile
item KASTELIC, JOHN - University Of Calgary
item DEBUCK, JEROEN - University Of Calgary
item BARKEMA, HERMAN - University Of Calgary

Submitted to: Journal of Dairy Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/15/2024
Publication Date: 10/5/2024
Citation: Martins, L., Orsel, K., Eshraghisamani, R., Hernandez-Agudelo, J., Pereira, A., Shaukat, W., Koets, A.P., Bannantine, J.P., Ritter, C., Kelton, D.F., Whittington, R.J., Weber, M.F., Facciuolo, A., Dhand, N.K., Donat, K., Eisenberg, S., Salgado, M.A., Kastelic, J.P., Debuck, J., Barkema, H.W. 2024. Invited review: improved control of Johne's disease in dairy cattle through advancements in diagnostics, testing and management of young stock. Journal of Dairy Science. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2024-24643.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2024-24643

Interpretive Summary: Young stock can shed and transmit Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis to other young stock, but this fact is not often accounted for in dairy management strategies. Therefore, Johne’s disease control programs on dairy farms should be enhanced by inclusion of young stock in management and testing strategies. Furthermore, it is important to improve diagnostic tests and optimize their use in young stock, but this can be difficult due to immature immune systems at their young age. Additional research on test characteristics of new diagnostic tests and validation of indirect tests in field settings are essential. In this communication, we provide an overview of management and testing opportunities in young stock to control Johne’s disease on dairy farms.

Technical Abstract: Many Johne’s disease (JD) control programs have been implemented worldwide, but few have successfully eradicated Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). This limited success may be partly due to exclusion of young stock from most MAP testing strategies. Young stock (calves and replacement heifers or bulls) can shed MAP in feces and have antibody titers, as confirmed in experimentally or naturally infected cattle. Furthermore, there is potential MAP transmission between young stock. Calves and heifers are often included in JD management strategies on dairy farms but often excluded from MAP testing due to the lag between infection and detection of MAP shedding and antibody titers with conventional diagnostic tests. We summarize evidence of MAP shedding early in the course of infection and discuss promising diagnostics, testing and management strategies to support inclusion of young stock in JD control programs. Improvements in fecal Polymerase Chain Reaction, interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) enable earlier detection of MAP and specific early immune responses. For instance, studies on IGRA and ELISA have focused on evaluation of new antigens and optimal age of testing. There are new diagnostics, including phage-based tests to detect viable MAP and gene expression patterns and metabolomics to detect MAP-infected young stock. In addition, refinements in testing and management of calves and heifers may enable reductions in MAP prevalence. In summary, although transmission between young stock may cause new MAP infections, use of new diagnostic tests and testing strategies for young stock should improve JD control programs.