Tissue localisation of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis following artificially induced intracellular and naked bacteraemia.

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) is the causative agent of Johne's disease or paratuberculosis, a chronic enteritis of ruminants. While Johne's disease is primarily expressed in the gastrointestinal tract, isolation of MAP from extra-intestinal tissues indicates that microbial dissemination via the haematogenous route may occur during the infection. This study examined the movement of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) infected with MAP and the dissemination of MAP following mycobacteraemia induced by IV inoculation over a time frame of 3 days.

Culture of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) from blood and extra-intestinal tissues in experimentally infected sheep.

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) is the causative agent of Johne's disease or paratuberculosis, a chronic enteritis of ruminants, and has been suggested to play a role in Crohn's disease in humans. While Johne's disease is primarily expressed in the gastrointestinal tract, isolation of MAP from extra-intestinal tissues indicates that microbial dissemination via the haematogenous route may occur during the infection. Consequently, the occurrence of mycobacteraemia and dissemination to the liver and hepatic lymph node was investigated in 111 sheep.

Optimisation of culture of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis from blood samples.

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) is the causative agent of Johne's disease or paratuberculosis, a chronic enteritis of ruminants, and has been suggested to play a role in Crohn's disease in humans. While disease expression is primarily in the gastrointestinal tract, isolation of MAP or MAP DNA at distant sites indicates that disseminated infections also occur. This is the first study to compare, optimise and critically evaluate different methods of concentrating MAP from spiked blood samples to enable its culture.

Experimental infection model for Johne's disease using a lyophilised, pure culture, seedstock of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis.

Johne's disease is a severe chronic enteritis of ruminants caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Map). Repeatable infections of known duration are required for validation of new diagnostic tests, evaluation of pathogenesis and development of improved vaccines. In the first study of its type, a standardised experimental model for Johne's disease was developed based on a lyophilised, low passage, pure culture, seedstock of Map.