Susceptibility of horses to Mycobacterium paratuberculosis
Larsen, A.B.; Moon, H.W.; Merkal, R.S.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 33(11): 2185-2189
1972
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9645 PMID: 5081479 Document Number: 45520
A total of 8 colts was used: two colts were inoculated i/v and one colt used as a contact control was placed with them; two colts were exposed intragastrically; one colt was given killed M. paratuberculosis i/v; and the remaining two colts were used as normal controls and were housed separately. Those given live bacteria i/v began losing weight 84 days after exposure, and shortly thereafter they had clinical signs of disease, consisting of loss of body weight and rough coat; the organism was excreted in their faeces. P.M. examinations were performed on all colts approximately 120 days after initial exposure. Selected tissues were removed from each. There was granulomatous inflammation in the small intestine and mesenteric lymph nodes, and M. paratuberculosis was frequently recovered from the small intestine of the exposed colts and of the colt used as a contact control. C.f. tests and i/d johnin tests had limited value for diagnosis.