Paratuberculosis in Red Deer (Cervus elaphus): an Immunohistochemical Study

PAOLICCHI F, VAGNOZZI A, MORSELLA C, VERNA A, MASSONE A, PORTIANSKY E, GIMENO E.

JOURNAL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE SERIES B

Lugar: Germany; Año: 2001 vol. 48 p. 313 - 320

0931-1793

In the present study, we compared the utility of immunohistochemical with serological and histological results for the characterization of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis (M. paratuberculosis) in tissues od affected red deer. Bacterial isolation was considered the standard reference. Samples were taken from seven clinically affected animals with typical macroscopic lesions. The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the gel diffusion tests (GD) were used for serological determinations. SAamples from intestine and mesenteric lymph nodes were processed fro bacterial isolation and histology. M paratuberculosis was isolated fronm all the animals. Histologically, lymph nodes displayed necrosis and mineralization at the cortical and medullar areas. Ziehl. Neelsen stained bacteria were numerous inside macrophages and Langhans- type giant cells. Giant and epithelioid cells and pymphocytes were prominene at the ileal mucous membrane. The immunostaining of M paratuberculosis was very clear inside epithelioid and giant cells. Image analysis was carried out to determine the immunostainde area. There was total agreement among the methods employed. Immunohistochemical can be very useful when microorganism can not be recovered tissues or faeces.