DefinePK

Abstract

Johne’s disease is a chronic infectious disease of all ruminants caused by the acid-fast bacilli, Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis. Various laboratory diagnostic techniques were developed for the diagnosis of JD including cultural and immunological approaches or molecular biological tools. In the current investigation, 198 fecal samples of dairy cattle from four farms in different governorates in Egypt were subjected to direct Ziehl-Neelsen stain, culture in Herrold’s Egg Yolk Agar media and polymerase chain reaction by amplification of IS900 gene. Results recommended that the application of ZN stain on fecal samples from clinically suspected cases should be occurred, and then PCR targeting IS900 gene should be applied on those which contain acid-fast bacilli to ensure rapid and accurate laboratory diagnosis of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis.