Control of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis infection in agricultural species

Paratuberculosis or Johne's disease is a chronic intestinal disease caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, which continues to spread i n agricultural species;. Control of paratuberculosis is challenging and sho uld not be underestimated. Due to the long incubation period of the infecti on, disease is largely subclinical in domesticated livestock. Hence, direct effects on animal productivity and welfare are often masked and may appear insufficient to justify large investments in control programmes by individ ual farmers, livestock industries or governments. Furthermore, in some coun tries the main effects of the disease are indirect, resulting from the impa ct of market discrimination against herds and flocks known to be infected, or from the control measures enforced to reduce transmission. In such circu mstances, producers may be unwilling to co-operate with surveillance that m ay detect infection in herds or flocks. As control programmes are rarely su ccessful in eliminating the infection from a herd or flock in the short ter m without an aggressive and costly programme, financial and community suppo rt assists producers to deal with the challenge. Successful prevention and central depends on animal health authorities and livestock industries acquiring a good understanding of the nature and epide miology of infection, and of the application of tools for diagnosis and con trol. Building support for control programmes under the leadership of the a ffected livestock industries is critical, as programmes are unlikely to be successful without ongoing political will, supported by funding for researc h, surveillance and control.