Study of Microbiological and Molecular Typing Aspects of Paratuberculosis in Sheep and Goats in Northern Greece

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Abstract
Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, an acid–fast bacterium is the agent of Johne’s disease, an intestinal disease that causes poor nutrient intake in ruminants. During the period 1987–2003, 322 of 777 (41.4%) goat herds and 97 of 458 (21.1%) sheep flocks were found to be infected with M.a.paratuberculosis in Northern Greece. From goats, mycobacteria were isolated from 238 of 652 (36.5%) of intestinal tissues, 14 of 119 (11.8%) of lymph nodes and five of 369 (1.4%) of faecal samples. From sheep, mycobacteria were isolated from 25 of 162 (15.4%) of intestinal tissues, three of 41 (7.3%) of lymph nodes and two of 322 (0.6%) of faecal samples. Isolates were typed by pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and restriction fragment length polymorphism followed by hybridization to IS900 [IS900‐ restriction fragment‐length polymorphism (RFLP)]. IS900‐RFLP BstEII profiles C1 and C5 and PFGE profiles [2–19] and [29–15] were identified. These PFGE profiles have not been found outside Greece to date.

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