The within host dynamics of Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis infection in cattle: where time and place matter

A.P. Koets*, Shigetoshi Eda, Srinand Sreevatsan

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

101 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Johne’s disease or paratuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), occurs in domestic
and wild animals worldwide, causing a significant economic loss to livestock industries. After a prolonged incubation
time, infected cattle shed MAP bacilli into feces and spread the disease to an uninfected animal population. It is largely
unknown how (or whether) the interplay between the pathogen and the host immunity determines timing of shedding
after the long incubation time. Such information would provide an understanding of pathogenesis in individual animals
and the epidemiology of MAP infection in animal populations. In this review, we summarize current knowledge of
bovine Johne’s disease pathology, pathogenesis, immunology and genetics. We discuss knowledge gaps that direly
need to be addressed to provide a science-based approach to diagnostics and (immuno)prophylaxis. These knowledge
gaps are related to anatomical/clinical manifestation of MAP invasion, interaction of bacteria with phagocytes, granuloma
formation, shedding, establishment and kinetics of adaptive immune responses in the pathogenesis of the disease. These
topics are discussed at the molecular, cellular and tissue levels with special attention to the within host dynamics
including the temporal and the spatial context relevant for the various host-pathogen interactions.
Original languageEnglish
Article number61
Number of pages17
JournalVeterinary Research
Volume46
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015

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