Johne's disease is caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) in cattle. We investigated the utility of Map-echA, a recombinant antigen based on the MAP1197 protein of Map for ELISA-based diagnosis of Johne’s disease. Antibody responses to Map-echA were greater in Map-infected cattle than in uninfected cattle. The specificity of Map-echA ELISA was confirmed by evaluation of hyper-immune sera against various kinds of Mycobacterium species. Furthermore, in all experimentally infected cattle, antibodies against Map-echA were detected 2-7 months earlier than those against the antigens used by commercially available ELISA kits. These results suggest that Map-echA can be used as a specific and sensitive serological diagnostic antigen for the detection of Map infection.
(Bacterial and Parasitic Disease Research Division)
References:
Nagata R. et al (2013) Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol. 155:253-258
