Molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis: IS900 PCR identification and IS1311 polymorphism analysis from ruminants in the Punjab region of India

Johne's disease is chronic granulomatous infectious enteritis of animals caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis. A total of 153 animals from 19 dairy farms, 2 gaushalas (unproductive-animal rehabilitation centers), 2 goat and 2 sheep farms from different districts of the Punjab region were selected on the basis of clinical signs of disease. All samples from cattle (n = 86), buffalo (n = 34), goat (n = 25) and sheep (n = 26) were subjected to Ziehl–Neelsen staining and DNA extraction by a freeze and thaw method. Ziehl–Neelsen staining detected 71% samples positive for acid-fast bacilli whereas IS900 PCR detected 55% positive for Map DNA. IS1311 PCR-REA analysis of IS900 positive samples revealed ‘Bison’ type as the most prevalent (82%) genotype of Map, infecting all domestic ruminants. ‘Cattle’ type was present in a minority of cases (15%) from cattle, buffaloes and goats. This is the first report of ‘Cattle’ type Map from buffalo and goat species in India.