Johne's disease or paratuberculosis

Abstract

"Johne's disease (pronounced 'Yone-es') or paratuberculosis is an incurable wasting disease of adult cattle that is being increasingly recognized in the United States. Since prevalance rates in the U.S.-slaughtered cows range from 2 to 18 percent, Johne's disease is now considred a major problem. It is of more concern in dairy herds than beef operations since there is a larger percentage of cases in the dairy cattle population than in beef. The difference is probably unrelated to specific breed susceptibility but reflects differences in management practices and close confinement, both of which favor easier transmission of the organism. The major problem is, therefore, the infected dairy herd."--First page.