The pathology of Johne's disease in sheep

Aust Vet J. 1990 Feb;67(2):47-50. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1990.tb07693.x.

Abstract

The clinical, gross and histopathological findings in 50 sheep affected with Johne's disease are described. Clinically 90% were emaciated and 20% showed severe diarrhoea. On necropsy there was thickening of the walls of the intestines, particularly of the ileum, caecum and less frequently the jejunum, but in 36% of sheep the changes were only mild. Histologically there was a granulomatous enteritis, typhlitis and colitis, with the most severe changes in the terminal ileum. High numbers of acid-fast organisms were present in the terminal ileum in over 70% of sheep. Mycobacterium paratuberculosis was cultured from only 8% of the sheep examined.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Intestines / pathology
  • Liver / pathology
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Male
  • Paratuberculosis / pathology*
  • Sheep
  • Sheep Diseases / pathology*