[The suitability of ELISA for the detection of antibodies against Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis in bulk milk samples from Rhineland-Palatinate].

Paratuberculosis or Johne's Disease, caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), is a notifiable disease in Germany which produces enormous economical losses in dairy farms. At present,there is no confirmed data about the actual number of infected livestock herds in Germany. A countrywide monitoring program to evaluate the prevalence in dairy herds would only be economically feasible on the basis of bulk milk testing.