in human Crohn’s disease. I think farmers and veterinarians should bear in mind this hypothesis to avoid unnecessary risks.”
The possible similarity with Crohn’s coupled with production losses prompted the European Commission to launch the ParaTBTools Project, in which 200 scientists participated from Europe, the United States, Canada, Argentina and New Zealand.
Their research conclusions tabled at Inverness included a harmonization of diagnostic test systems, control programs, control approach strategies, vaccines and culling.
The slaughter approach now used by Danish farmers was proposed by Dutch scientist Dr. Douwe Bakker with the Netherlands Central Veterinary Institute and director of ParaTBTools. He said the culling strategy is working for farmers.
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“Their financial results are improving because they end up with greater yields.”
Control programs include biosecurity, farm hygiene and extreme care when buying new stock.
In 2011, Dutch dairy cattle farmers will be able to sell their products only if they are integrated into a recognized control program.
“Certified programs have become very popular and they are based on the compliance with a series of farm management specifications that are expected to reduce the chances of animals being infected,” Juste said.
In France, the preferred strategy appears to be vaccination to prolong the productive life of the animal.
In Spain, where data shows that 30 percent of Friesian dairy cattle are infected, the Basque Country Autonomous Community has taken a leading role by implementing a control program based on vaccinations under the auspices of the Gipuzkoa provincial government’s livestock services.
“The Spanish paratuberculosis vaccine is a commercial vaccine that is currently registered for small rumi-
In 1894, a German farmer bought a cow that failed to produce milk and suffered from diarrhea and weight loss. After death its tissues were examined byDr. Heinrich Albert Johneand a visiting scientist from the United States. They concluded that the disease was caused by the bacterium that causes tuberculosis in birds, mycobacterium avium, and, in recognition of the pathological similarity to intestinal tuberculosis, proposed the name “pseudotuberculous enteritis.”
nants in many countries,” Juste said.
“The cattle version is currently in the registration phase in Australia and in Spain, where it is only available for the limited field trial (that) Neiker is leading in Gipuzkoa.
“However, it is already registered in New Zealand. Currently local vaccines are available for affected cattle farms at least in the U.K. and some states of the U.S. In sheep, an ovine version is freely available in Spain and is being extensively applied in Australia and New Zealand.”
But these vaccines treat the symptoms of Johne’s and not the cause.
“There is currently no vaccine available for JD that prevents infection or shedding, but some groups are working on (their) development,” said Barkema.
Vaccine research is ongoing at the University of Saskatchewan’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization.
“We’re looking at a three to five year window before anything that would stand a chance of being available to farmers,” said Dr. Andrew Potter, chief executive officer and director of VIDO-InterVac.
“We have had a research program for three years. It’s a tough one. Part of the problem is that it’s not like a disease that you can test in weeks or months. JD is a long-term type of disease and our approach is to develop a vaccine that we want to be 100 percent effective.”
