Different diagnostic methods (ELISA, faecal culture, tissue culture and gross pathology) were used to detect beef cattle infected with Mycobactenum avium subsp. paratuberculosis at the slaughter house. Since this bacterium has been linked to human Crohn's disease, it is important to assess the potential risks posed by beef consumption. One-hundred four head of cattle between the ages of 12 and 24 months were tested in an EU slaughter house. The overall prevalence of animals infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis found by combining the results obtained by culturing the faeces, followed by confirmation of the positive samples by using PCR and serological tests was 11.54%. The isolation of Mycobacterium avium subsp. Paratuberculosis from organ cultures in animals that tested negative in the standard testing methods suggests that the incidence of infection may be underestimated.
Prevalence of Mycobacterium Avium Subsp.Paratuberculosis Infection in Young Beef Animals Submitted to a Regional Abattoir
BRANCIARI, Raffaella;MAMMOLI, Roberta;MIRAGLIA, DINO;AVELLINI, Paolo;CIOFFI, ATTILIA;RANUCCI, David
2008
Abstract
Different diagnostic methods (ELISA, faecal culture, tissue culture and gross pathology) were used to detect beef cattle infected with Mycobactenum avium subsp. paratuberculosis at the slaughter house. Since this bacterium has been linked to human Crohn's disease, it is important to assess the potential risks posed by beef consumption. One-hundred four head of cattle between the ages of 12 and 24 months were tested in an EU slaughter house. The overall prevalence of animals infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis found by combining the results obtained by culturing the faeces, followed by confirmation of the positive samples by using PCR and serological tests was 11.54%. The isolation of Mycobacterium avium subsp. Paratuberculosis from organ cultures in animals that tested negative in the standard testing methods suggests that the incidence of infection may be underestimated.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
