Preliminary serological investigation of M. paratuberculosis in dairy herds in Greece

摘要

In Greece, Mycobacterium paratuberculosis is found mainly in sheep and goats and less in cattle. Since the majority of the dairy cattle are imported from northern European countries, the aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of thedisease by serological determination, in a 3-year follow-up pilot study. Dairy cattle older than 15 months, already existing on the farms' and heifers within the first 3-days of importation, were tested for antibodies against M. paratuberculosis by means of ELISA. Seropositive animals are under clinical control for the following years, and are subjected to fecal culture. A management change was suggested to farmers in order to control paratuberculosis.