Submit an ad Subscribe Ag Review Staff Feature Stories Groups working to control Johne's Disease The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, interested cattle owners and veterinarians are working with the Cooperative Extension Service, the College of Veterinary Medicine at N.C. State University and others to establish a Voluntary Bovine Johne s Disease Control Program.
Wild ruminants are also susceptible.
The disease is found throughout the world. Johne s Disease is caused by bacteria, Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberalosis. This bacteria grows very slowly in the ruminant intestinal tract causing the wall of the intestinal tract to become greatly thickened. This thickening interferes with the animal s ability to absorb nutrients from its feed. The bacteria can also be found in other tissues, including lymph nodes, uterine and mammary tissues.