Studies on patho-epidemiology of Johne's disease in buffaloes of Malwa region

Abstract

In the present study, 250 buffaloes of 2 to 7 years of age slaughtered at Cantonment Board slaughter house, Mhow and Indore were examined for chronic enteritis. The incidence of chronic enteritis was found to be 74.4% (186/250), based on the observation of gross and microscopic lesions in intestine and mesenteric lymph nodes. Among 186 cases of enteritis, 5(2%) were of mycobacterial origin (Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis), 22(8.8%) of other bacterial origin, 39(15.6%) of parasitic origin and 120(48%) were of non-specific origin. The main difference of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis group with the remaining groups of chronic enteritis was that the intestinal wall was found variably thickened and mucosal corrugation, especially in proximity to the ileo-caecal junction. Histopathology revealed focal aggregates of epithelioid cells in the form of microgranulomas in the small intestine with infiltration of plasma cells in the lamina propriaand granulomas in the paracortical regions of the mesenteric lymph nodes. ZiehlNeelsen's staining showed presence of acid-fast bacilli both in impression smears and tissue sections. On histochemistry tissue section of intestine showed depletion of glycogen and increased mucin activity. Hematological values of Johne's disease cases did not differ significantly from enteritis of other origins, with only moderate difference in the monocyte values. Serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase biochemical tests showed highly significant changes compared to normal values. Total protein and C-reactive protein values were variable.