No evidence that wild red deer (Cervus elaphus) on the Iberian Peninsula are a reservoir of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infection

• Published in: The veterinary journal (1997) Vol. 192; no. 3; pp. 544 - 546
• Main Authors: Carta, T., Martin-Hernando, M.P., Boadella, M., Fernández-de-Mera, I.G., Balseiro, A., Sevilla, I.A., Vicente, J., Maio, E., Vieira-Pinto, M., Alvarez, J., Pérez-de-la-Lastra, J.M., Garrido, J., Gortazar, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-06-2012
• Subjects: Animals; bacteria; bacteriology; Cervus elaphus; cross reaction; Deer; Disease Reservoirs - veterinary; Disease surveillance; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - veterinary; histopathology; Johne’s disease; livestock; Mycobacterium avium; Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis; Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis - isolation & purification; Paratuberculosis; Paratuberculosis - epidemiology; Paratuberculosis - microbiology; pathogens; Portugal - epidemiology; Red deer (Cervus elaphus); serology; Spain - epidemiology; Wildlife; Iberian Peninsula; Portugal; Spain; Disease surveillance; Johne’s disease; Paratuberculosis; Wildlife; Red deer (Cervus elaphus)
• ISSN: 1090-0233; 1532-2971
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2011.08.010

The potential role of red deer (Cervus elaphus) as a reservoir of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection is largely unknown. A total of 332 wild red deer were investigated using post-mortem examination, bacteriology and serology. Only three animals (1.12%) were found to have lesions on histopathological examination and no MAP bacteria were recovered on culture. The results suggest it is unlikely that wild red deer make a significant contribution to the maintenance of MAP infection in the region. The cross-reactivity of the ELISAs used indicates this diagnostic modality is ineffective in the detection of MAP infection in this species. The implications of these results for the control of this important pathogen in both livestock and wildlife are discussed.