Goat paratuberculosis in Shiraz: Histopathological and molecular approaches

In the present study, Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) was investigated in goats slaughtered in Shiraz abattoir using histopathological examinations and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Ilium and mesenteric lymph node samples from 66 suspected goat carcasses to Johne’s disease were collected. Among 66 examined slaughtered goats, nine (13.63%) goats were positive for MAP in both histopathological and PCR examinations. Eight goats were positive in PCR method while no lesion related to Johne’s disease was observed in their histopathological sections. All positive goats in histopathological examination were also positive in PCR. Based on the results of PCR, the detection rate of MAP in Shiraz abattoir was 25.80% (17 goats). According to the present findings, although both histopathological and PCR methods are appropriate for detecting Johne’s disease, PCR is more sensitive than histopathological examination.