Health
Para tuberculosis (Para-tbc)
Para tuberculosis or para-tbc is a contagious infectious disease that occurs mainly in ruminants, particularly in cattle and goats.
Definition
Para tuberculosis or para-tbc is a contagious infectious disease that occurs mainly in ruminants, particularly in cattle and goats. The name para tuberculosis is given because the symptoms can be confused with tuberculosis. It is also called Johne's disease after one of the first researchers of this disease.Cause
The disease is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium avium subspecies para tuberculosis (MAP), which belongs to the mycobacterium bacteria. Para tuberculosis occurs worldwide.Description
The para tuberculosis bacterium settles in the intestinal wall and causes an incurable intestinal inflammation (enteritis). Via the bloodstream the bacterium spreads to the udder. Infected animals generally show the first symptoms of disease between the ages of 3 and 6 years. The intestinal infection leads to reduced milk yield and a slowly decreasing condition, despite a good appetite. The animal has intermittent or persistent watery diarrhoea, with gas bubbles visible. However, the animal does not have a fever. The born animals from a sick animal have a too low birth weight. The disease cannot be cured and eventually the animal dies by exhaustion.Because of the dormant character and because the symptoms also occur in other diseases, it takes generally long before the diagnosis is made.
The disease can be determined by bacteriological research from the second year of life. In this manure study, the stool is put on hold for 8 to 16 weeks.
By means of milk or blood tests (para tbc-ELISA) antibodies against the bacterium can be detected from the third year of life. Para tuberculosis can be demonstrated during this examination before the animal receives the first symptoms.
Treatment
Good hygiene is the only thing that helps against para-tbc.Para-TBC is a serious, persistent disease. The only thing that helps, is a hygienic way of working. This also reduces the infection pressure of other germs. Completely banning Para-TBC usually takes a few cow generations.
Para tuberculosis, or Para-TBC, banned from the farm is a challenge for cattle farmers. Clearing a company by clearing infected animals is not possible. The causative bacterium is so well-hidden in the cow's body that none of the current laboratory tests can detect all infected animals at a farm. And the expectation is that this will not change in the near future.
Para-TBC can only be tackled with hygienic measures. Calves may not have contact with the manure from older cattle. In essence, the fight comes down to this: a control with the ultimate aim of extinction of the germ on the farm. How a cattle farmer must proceed to limit the transfer of Para-TBC among his livestock is described in the ParaWijzer folder in comprehensible language. This is an information folder from the Animal Health Service that provides the basis for combat in practice. Three steps
The Para-TBC approach is divided into three steps. Each step concerns a part of the life of the young calf. This division aims to make the measures logical and clear. Step 1 discusses the birth, step 2 the calf rearing until weaning and step 3 the period from weaning until the calf is one year old. The measures within each step further reduce the disease. Fill-in lists, a stick behind the door
In order to stimulate cattle farmers to get started, the ParaWijzer contains fill-in lists on which the farmer can record his plans. The date of execution must be entered and also the name of the responsible person. You can do this in a way that you will be checked, for example by your veterinarian. This way you put a stick behind your door for yourself, which may change your working methods. The hygienic measures that are offered also break the transfer of other germs on the farm. This concerns in particular manure-transmitted diseases, such as most types of calf diarrhoea. But with a limited number of additions many more infection cycles can be broken. An infection cycle is the circle of transmission of the germs, multiplication (possibly disease), excretion and again transfer. So by doing a little bit more, the livestock farmer brings the business operations to a higher level, which reduces the disease pressure. This makes the management animal disease-proof. Such a business management not only generates money, but also job satisfaction. Small, separated age groups
In this context, you should, for example, think of accommodating young cattle in small age groups that are mutually hygienically separated. This intervention inhibits the build-up of a dangerous yearling flu infection.
Good hygiene (e.g. around birth) not only benefits the calf, but also the cow. As a result, she runs less of a risk of staying on the afterbirth, of getting leucorrhoea or of getting udder inflammation. Consult with consultants
Adjusting operations in the area of hygiene and animal disease resistance can best be done by the farmer in consultation with advisers. Outsiders have an open view of business management. They sometimes see opportunities that the farmer himself does not see. The first appointed expert is the veterinarian. It comes to many companies, has the necessary knowledge and knows how to separate main issues. The veal specialists from Alpuro Breeding are also happy to assist you.
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