A survey of wild rabbits in Tayside, Scotland revealed that 67 per cent were infected with Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis . In general, the infected rabbits had histopathological changes within the lymph nodes and intestines which were consistent with the changes due to paratuberculosis in ruminants. The survey raises the possibility that rabbits and other wildlife may be involved in the epidemiology of paratuberculosis, a possibility which has important implications for the control of the disease.

This work studies the influence of Neospora caninum intra-species diversity on abortion outcome, infection dynamics in terms of parasite dissemination and peripheral-local immune responses in pregnant cattle. Animals were intravenously inoculated at day 70 of pregnancy with 107 tachyzoites of two isolates showing marked differences in virulence in vitro and in pregnant mouse models: Nc-Spain7, a high virulence isolate, and Nc-Spain8, a low-to-moderate virulence isolate. After inoculation, pregnancy was monitored, and dams were culled when foetal death was detected. Foetal mortality occurred in all infected heifers between days 24 and 49 post-infection (pi), however, it was detected sooner in Nc-Spain7-infected animals (median day = 34) than those inoculated with Nc-Spain8 (median day = 41) with a trend towards significance (P < 0.11). Similar histological lesions were observed in placentomes and in most of the foetuses from the two infected groups. However, parasites were more frequently detected in the placenta and foetuses by PCR and in the foetal brain by immunohistochemistry in Nc-Spain7-infected animals. Specific antibodies were detected starting at day 13 post-infection in all infected cattle, with higher IgG levels in Nc-Spain7-infected group. IFN-γ and IL-4 profiles also varied between infected groups in PBMC stimulation assays. Infected animals showed significant increases in their cytokine mRNA levels (IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12p40 and TNF-α) in the caruncle at time of foetal death. Differences between the infected groups were also observed for cytokine profiles. These results demonstrate the influence of the N. caninum isolate on foetal death outcome, infection dynamics and immune responses in cattle.

Objective: To investigate the relation between lesions and cellular immune response-based tests in sheep with naturally acquired paratuberculosis and to evaluate efficacy of an interferon-γ (IFN-γ) assay and the intradermal skin test. Animals: 110 and 88 adult sheep were used to evaluate the IFN-γ assay and skin test, respectively. Procedure: Before euthanasia, heparinized blood was collected and incubated with avian purified protein derivative (PPD). Interferon-γ production was assessed, using a commercial enzyme immunoassay. Skin testing in the caudal fold also was performed, using avian PPD. Sensitivity and specificity of these techniques were evaluated, using histopathologic findings as reference. Results: Of the sheep examined, 61 (55.4%) had lesions that were classified in 5 categories, according to location, extension, cellular types, and presence of acid-fast bacilli. Regarding cellular immunity test results, 55.4% of sheep with and 6.1% without pathologic changes had positive results of the IFN-γ assay. Skin test sensitivity (55.6%) and specificity (100%) were slightly greater. Conclusion: Close association between pathologic findings and cellular immune response was apparent. Most sheep with focal (tuberculoid) and some with diffuse lesions (borderline tuberculoid), all with scant or no acid-fast bacilli in the intestine, had positive results of the IFN-γ assay and skin test. Most sheep with diffuse lesions and high numbers of bacilli (borderline lepromatous) were test negative. Clinical Relevance: Cellular immune response-based and serologic tests are useful tools for seeking evidence of paratuberculosis. Each technique detects different types of immune-reacting sheep, and their simultaneous use may detect most infected animals. (Am J Vet Res 1999;60:123–127)