Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 Oct 13;19(1):203.
doi: 10.1186/s12917-023-03725-x.

Prevalence of paratuberculosis in cattle based on gross and microscopic lesions in Ethiopia

Temesgen Mohammed  1   2 , Gezahegne Mamo  3 , Aboma Zewude  4   5 , Asegedech Sirak  6 , Balako Gumi  4 , Gobena Ameni  7   8
Affiliations

Prevalence of paratuberculosis in cattle based on gross and microscopic lesions in Ethiopia

Temesgen Mohammed et al. BMC Vet Res. .

Abstract

Background: Paratuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), is a chronic progressive granulomatous enteritis mainly affecting domestic and wild ruminants worldwide. Although paratuberculosis could be prevail in Ethiopia, there is a scarcity of epidemiological data on paratuberculosis in the country. Thus, this study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of paratuberculosis based on gross and microscopic lesions in cattle slaughtered at ELFORA Abattoir, central Ethiopia. Small intestines and associated lymph nodes of 400 apparently healthy cattle which were slaughtered at ELFORA export abattoir were examined for gross and microscopic lesions of paratuberculosis. The microscopic lesions were classified into four grades (I-IV) based on the type and number of cells infiltrated into the lesion. The prevalence of paratuberculosis was estimated on the basis of gross as well as microscopic lesion of paratuberculosis.

Results: The prevalence of paratuberculosis was 11.25% (95% Confidence interval, CI = 0.083-0.148) on the basis of gross lesion. However, relatively lower prevalence (2.0%, 95% CI = 0.01, 0.039) was recorded based on microscopic lesion. The gross lesions were characterized by intestinal thickening, mucosal corrugations and enlargement of associated mesenteric lymph nodes. On the other hand, the microscopic lesions were characterized by granuloma of different grades ranging from grade I to grade III lesions.

Conclusions: The present study indicated the occurrence of paratuberculosis in cattle of Ethiopia based on the detection of gross and microscopic lesions consistent with the lesion of paratuberculosis. The result of this study could be used as baseline information for future studies on the epidemiology and economic significance of paratuberculosis.

Keywords: Cattle; Ethiopia; Paratuberculosis; Pathology; Prevalence.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Gross lesion suggestive of paratuberculosis in the small intestine of apparently healthy cattle. The lesion was characterized by corrugation of the intestinal mucosa and thickening of the intestinal walls
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Gross lesions suggestive of paratuberculosis in the mesenteric lymph node of apparently healthy cattle. The lesion was characterized by enlarged, edematous (white arrow) and cording of the lymph nodes (black arrow)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Microscopic lesions suggestive of paratuberculosis in the hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained section of the ileum of apparently healthy cattle. The lesion is characterized by diffuse Inflammatory cell infiltration in the mucosa and submucosa of the ileum. H&E stain 100X
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
a Microscopic lesions suggestive of paratuberculosis in the hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained section of the ileum of apparently healthy cattle. The lesion is characterized by extensive numbers epithelioid cell infiltration. H&E stain 400X. b Microscopic lesions suggestive of paratuberculosis in the hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained section of the submucosa of apparently healthy cattle. The lesion is characterized by epithelioid cell infiltration forming nests or as a scattered form in the submucosa of the intestine. H&E stain 40X
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Microscopic lesions suggestive of paratuberculosis in the hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained section of the ileum of apparently healthy cattle. The lesion is characterized by Payer’s patches lymphoid hyperplasia and proliferation with extension towards the mucosa and crypt replacement. H&E stain 4X
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Microscopic lesions suggestive of paratuberculosis in the hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained section of the ileum of apparently healthy cattle. There is replacement of the crypts with macrophages and lymphocytes. H&E stain 10X
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Microscopic lesions suggestive of paratuberculosis in the hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained section of the ileum of apparently healthy cattle. The lesion is characterized by presence of multinucleated giant cells in the sub mucosa of the intestinal section. H&E stain 40X
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Chiodini RJ, Van Kruiningen HJ, Merkal RS. Ruminant paratuberculosis (Johne’s disease): the current status and future prospects. Cornell Vet. 1984;74:218–262. - PubMed
    1. Singh S, Sohal JS, Kumar N, Gupta S, Chaubey K, Rawat KD, et al. Recent approaches in diagnosis and control of Mycobacterial infections with special reference to Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis. Adv Anim Vet Sci. 2014;1:1–11. doi: 10.14737/journal.aavs/2014/2.1s.1.12. - DOI
    1. Singh AV, Singh SV, Singh PK, Sohal JS. Is Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, the cause of Johne’s disease in animals, a good candidate for Crohn’s disease in man? Indian J Gastroenterol. 2010;29:53–8. doi: 10.1007/s12664-010-0019-y. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Stabel JR, Wells SJ, Wagner BA. Relationships between fecal culture, ELISA, and bulk tank milk test results for Johne’s disease in US dairy herds. J Dairy Sci. 2002;85:525–531. doi: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(02)74104-0. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Whittington RJ, Windsor PA. In utero infection of cattle with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis: a critical review and meta-analysis. Vet J. 2009;179:60–9. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.08.023. - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources