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Title: Paratuberculosis in saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) and experimental transmission to domestic sheep.
Title Abreviation: J Wildl Dis Date of Pub: 1992 Apr
Author: Dukes TW; Glover GJ; Brooks BW; Duncan JR; Swendrowski M;
Issue/Part/Supplement: 2 Volume Issue: 28 Pagination: 161-70
MESH Headings: Animal; Animals, Wild; Animals, Zoo; Antelopes (*); Antibodies, Bacterial (BL); Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Immunodiffusion; Intestine, Small (*MI/PA); Lymph Nodes (*MI/PA); Lymphocyte Transformation; Mesentery; Mycobacterium paratuberculosis (IM/*IP); Paratuberculosis (ET/PA/*TM); Sheep; Sheep Diseases (ET); -RN-;
Journal Title Code: KEM Publication Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE
Date of Entry: 920714NEntry Month: 9209
Country: UNITED STATES Index Priority: 2
Language: Eng Unique Identifier: 92292307
Unique Identifier: 92292307 ISSN: 0090-3558
Abstract: Mycobacterium paratuberculosis was isolated in low numbers from the small intestine and associated mesenteric lymph nodes of a saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) using routine culture techniques in spite of histologic evidence of high numbers of acid-fast bacteria in these tissues. Two newborn domestic sheep were fed the ground intestinal tissue containing acid-fast bacteria and the progression of the experimental disease was followed by fecal culture, immunodiffusion (AGID) and lymphocyte stimulation (LST) tests. One experimentally infected sheep developed progressive clinical illness 1 yr postinoculation. Few M. paratuberculosis were isolated from feces or tissues although an extensive granulomatous mycobacterial enteritis, lymphadenitis and lymphangitis were observed containing large numbers of typical acid-fast organisms. No clinical illness was observed in the second inoculated sheep after 18 mo of observation, although infection was demonstrated at necropsy. Both sheep developed AGID and LST reactions indicative of paratuberculosis. This study demonstrated that a difficult to culture isolate of M. paratuberculosis was responsible for paratuberculosis in captive wild ruminants and was transmissible to domestic sheep. Diagnosis of paratuberculosis in four of eight of the imported saiga antelope and in eleven of their 18 offspring indicates the importance of this disease in management of captive wild ruminants and the ease with which this organism can be transmitted.
Abstract By: Author
Address: Agriculture Canada, Animal Diseases Research Institute.