Within-farm dispersion of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis by bioaerosols

Abstract

The general accepted and likely most important route of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) transmission is fecal–orally. Programs controlling this route were only partially successful so presence of unknown, therefore uncontrolled routes has been suggested. As a candidate aspiration of infective bioaerosols has been postulated as has been described for other bacteria. Bioaerosols are considered to be dust particles originating among other things from fecal material which become airborne by animal movement. A method to collect bioaerosols after they have settled was developed on an experimental farm with 100% MAP prevalence. Using liquid culture in combination with real-time PCR confirmation presence and viability of MAP was detected. This method was further validated on commercial dairy farms (