First isolation of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in a dairy goat in Argentina: Pathology and molecular characterization

No data concerning the presence of caprine paratuberculosis (PTBC) in Argentina are currently available. In this work, a Saanen dairy goat herd located in Buenos Aires province was sampled and tested for PTBC. Feces and blood samples were collected from 210 goats. Sera were analyzed by ELISA and fecal samples were pooled for culture. Necropsy was performed in two affected adult goats. Colonies were characterized and genotyped by IS900 PCR and IS1311 PCR-REA, respectively. Gross pathology and histopathology of necropsied goats were consistent with PTBC. Bacteriology, serology, and PCR confirmed the diagnosis. The Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis isolates showed a restriction pattern characteristic of type C strains. This is the first report on the isolation and molecular characterization of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis in dairy goats in Argentina.