Simultaneous Epizootic of Tuberculosis and Paratuberculosis and Dual Infection of These Diseases in Beef Cattle

Abstract

A simultaneous epizootic of bovine tuberculosis and paratuberculosis broke out among cattle of the Japanese Brown breed 2 to 11years old in an area of Hokkaido. For 2years 50 cattle were condemned by tuberculosis and 19 by paratuberculosis. Mycobacterium bovis was isolated from 47/50 cattle and M. paratuberculosis from 13/19. Of the 50 cattle, 16 had macroscopical paratuberculous intestinal lesions. Of the 19 cattle, three had tuberculous lesions in some organs. Histopathological examination revealed that 4 cattle were involved in the dual infection with the 2 organisms.