Letter to the editor: Clarification on USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service estimates: A comment on Wilson et al. (2010)

摘要

In a recent article, Wilson et al. (2010) referred to USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) estimates for Johne's disease (USDA, 2008). The authors were correct in their statements regarding the percentage of dairy operations in the western region (CA, ID, NM, TX, and WA) of the United States where producers had confirmed, through their own testing efforts, Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) infection at 13%. However, the authors compare this estimate to their own milk-based prevalence study. Wilson et al. (2010) reported that 39% of operations had at least one bulk tank milk sample test positive for MAP. These 2 estimates are not comparable: they are based on 2 different source populations and each had very different goals.