EPIZOOTIC OF PARATUBERCULOSIS IN FARMED ELK

After multiple cases of chronic diarrhea and weight loss in a farmed e lk herd, 3 yearlings and 1 adult elk with similar clinical signs were euthanatized and necropsied. Gross and histologic evidence of paratube rculosis were found in the yearlings. Evidence of serum antibody to My cobacterium paratuberculosis was detected in the 2 elk with the most d isseminated infection. Acid-fast organisms were isolated from multiple organs in all It elk and identified as M paratuberculosis by DNA prob e. Thirty-five percent of 1 calf crop (n = 31) died or were euthanatiz ed because of paratuberculosis before they were 2 years old. The organ ism was believed to have been spread by standing water that was used b y calves as a wallow and a source of drinking water. The water was bel ieved to have been contaminated by an infected adult female elk introd uced to the herd just before calving season.