Survey for the Presence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in the Bull Frozen Semen Samples and Blood Samples of Cattle, Sheep and Camel by Nested-PCR

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is a an obligate, gram positive, acid-fast bacterium in the genus Mycobacterium. It is the causative agent of Johne’s disease in some animals and perhaps the human disease Crohn's disease. The aim of this study was to use nested-Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) as an exact and fast technique to trace MAP in cattle, camel and sheep from each samples. Blood samples were collected from 144 cattle, 110 sheep and 95 camels and 83 frozen semen samples were obtained from bulls were obtained and DNA was extracted. At that time, nested-PCR was performed by specific primers for IS900 gene of MAP. The PCR products with 230 bp length were estimated as a positive. The occurrence of MAP detected in 8 of the 83 (9.638%) frozen semen samples of bull’s that used for artificial insemination, and was detected in 11 of the 144 (7.638%), 7 of the 95 (7.368%) and 16 of the 110 (14.545%) blood samples of cattle, camel and sheep in Iran, respectively. The results of this study were displayed nested-PCR is a good technique with high efficiency for detection of intracellular bacteria such as MAP in cattle, camel and sheep samples. Consequently, in spite this abundance more attention to Johne’s disease in cattle, camel and sheep to find MAP quickly is essential.

Blood; Johne’s disease; Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis; polymerase chain reaction (PCR); ruminant; semen