THE RELATION BETWEEN THE MYCOBACTERIUM BOVIS AND PARATUBERCULOSIS IN DAIRY FARM

Bovine tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium bovis remains a major problem in a number of countries as a globally distributed zoonotic disease that poses a significant threat to livestock. Bovine tuberculosis is often found where M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is present and it is difficult to eradicate and needs long-term efforts especially in the presence of paratuberculosis. Paratuberculosis known as Johne's disease, it is the causative agent of the chronic enteritis disease that affect ruminants. This study aimed to investigate TB/PTB co-infection in one dairy cattle farm and these animals had been previously skin tested. A total of 550 animals were included in this study and were examined using Tuberculin Test; 422 (76.73%) gave positive results, and then were tested by using IDEXX Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA) kit for screening of Bovine tuberculosis and paratuberculosis. 142 (25.82%) were positive as Mycobacterium bovis, 153 (27.82%) were positive as Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) and 11(2.6%) were suspected as Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis. Our results confirm the TB/PTB coinfection in these dairy cattle which 43 (7.82%) as positive T.B and Para T.B and 4 (0.72%) as positive T.B and suspected ParaT.B. Thus TB/PTB correlation was diagnosed in different dairy cattle farms. However, our information was limited. Thus, further research is needed to assess
the dairy cattle status in the whole country.