Johne’s Disease in Cattle

Johne's disease (paratuberculosis) is a chronic enteritis of adult cattle and sheep caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP). The main signs in cattle are progressive weight loss and chronic diarrhoea. Diagnosis and control are difficult. If your herd has no history of Johne's disease, it is critical to prevent introduction of infection because eradication is very difficult. So much so that eradication is no longer the aim of the UK National Johne’s Management Plan.