Comparison of the diagnostic value of the Complement Fixation Test (CFT), Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and the culture methods for detecting Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in sheep and goats

摘要

Objective: Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculsosis (MAP) is the cause of Johne's disease that affects mainly ruminants. However the growing concern about the spread of MAP is largely due to its implication in Crohn's disease of man. In the present study, we compare three methods, PCR, serology and culture, in detection of MAP from sheep and goats. Material and Methods: For this purpose, we compared the ability of detection of MAP in seemingly healthy sheep and goats from South-West Greece area. From a total of 30 flocks, 632 sheep and goats had fecal, serum, and whole-blood samples examined, respectively, by culture, the Complement Fixation Test (CFT), and the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) targeted to IS900, respectively.