Abstract

Johne’s disease caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) results in chronic weight loss and eventual death in sheep as well as in other ruminants. The disease has spread throughout the U.S.sheep flock, and it is estimated that 10% or possibly more of the flocks in the U.S. are infected. Sheep can be infected and spread the organism for years before succumbing to the disease. Current diagnostic tests are unable to detect animals in the early stages of infection, and because there is a lack of “known negative” sheep in production settings, the development and subsequent validation of new diagnostic tests are hindered. The objective of this report is to describe the process the McNay flock went through to ensure researchers that this population was not infected with MAP.

Keywords: Animal Science, Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine

How to Cite:

Robbe-Austerman, S. & Morrical, D. G., (2006) “Johne’s Disease Status of the McNay Sheep Flock”, Iowa State University Research and Demonstration Farms Progress Reports 2005(1).