Cross species transmission of Ovine Johne’s Disease
Did you know goats can contract and transmit ovine Johne's disease?
| Project start date: | 31 December 1997 |
| Project end date: | 31 May 2000 |
| Publication date: | 21 July 2022 |
| Project status: | Completed |
| Livestock species: | Sheep |
| Relevant regions: | National |
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Summary
Observations of transmission of ovine Johne's disease (OJD) from sheep to goats raised questions on whether the infection has become entrenched in the new hosts, or if continued contact with sheep is required to maintain infection, and if goats are able to transmit OJD back to sheep. This project summarised the information available about OJD in goats, and conducted surveys on farms. It was found that OJD appears to present as a milder infection in goats, which may mean that diagnostic tests are less sensitive. Fibre goats are able to maintain infection in the flock and transmit OJD to sheep. These findings will inform the control of OJD in in goats.
Objectives
The objectives of this project were:
1. To determine if the transmission of OJD has occurred from introduced to homebred goats
2. To determine the prevalence of OJD in goats on an endemically infected property
3. To evaluate the occurance of goats with faecal excretion of ovine Mycobacterium avium
subsp. paratuberculosis.
4. To provide a source of material for validation of culture tests for OJD in goats
5. To determine if transmission of OJD has occurred from goats to sheep
Key findings
Transmission of OJD from introduced to healthy homebred goats was demonstrated, faecal excretion of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis in
infected goats was confirmed and transmission of ovine Johne’s disease from introduced goats to
sheep was confirmed.
Benefits to industry
Prior to this project there was little information about the behavior, detection, mode of spread or risk OJD poses to goats. The findings from this project justify the inclusion of goats in the control program for OJD.
MLA action
It may not be obvious that a fibre goat herd is infected with OJD as the disease is less fully expressed, therefore a communication package should be developed to inform producers and encourage testing.
Future research
In order to provide a source of material for validation of culture tests for OJD in goats more infected goats need to be tested.
