Deer follow cattle with early Johne’s detection blood test
© Zorandim75/Adobe Stock Deer famers can identify Johne’s-positive animals rapidly following on-farm trial work that has road-tested the cattle blood test on hinds.
Research published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science used the actiphage test on 132 deer on four farms to detect disease carriers via blood sampling.
The test was successful in detecting Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in deer blood samples, scientists claim.
This means farms can use the test to screen animals before moving them to reduce infection spread, said study author Dr Cath Reese, of the University of Nottingham.
See also: Scientists develop quicker, more accurate Johne’s test
Previously, the main test used in deer was an antibody Elisa test, which detects the presence of MAP-specific antibodies produced by the animal in response to the infection.
However, commercially available tests are less successful at identifying animals in early stages of infection before they start shedding high amounts of bacteria.
How it works
- Actiphage works by detecting the MAP bacteria in blood or milk, rather than testing for antibodies
- It releases genomic DNA from the MAP cells
- Only a few cells are required to enable detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests
- It can test for Johne’s disease and bovine TB from a single blood sample
Test prompts cull
Arden Farms, near Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, has screened its entire herd after finding Johne’s disease was lurking in older animals.
The farm isolated infected animals and removed the carriers to eradicate the disease.
It is the first farm to use the test for disease control on its 450-hind unit, after the University of Nottingham invited it to take part in the study for PBD Biotech – makers of the blood test.
Farmer Sarah Arden said that Johne’s can be in the herd for many years before animals show symptoms, adding that it was a difficult disease to diagnose before the actiphage test.
Mrs Arden said: “There is an Elisa test that can be used to diagnose Johne’s in deer that detects antibody responses. The sensitivity of these tests in the early stages of infection are not good, so it often only gives a positive result once the deer is showing clinical signs of the disease.”
Screening use
The farm now uses the test to select animals, to ensure incoming animals are free from the disease.
Mrs Arden added: “We chose the deer for their conformation and temperament, and now we can select those without Johne’s.
“The vet can easily fit in the blood test along with other procedures to check the health of the animals.”