Strains characterization by PCR and RFLP from Mycobacterium avoium subsp paratuberculosis isolates of red deer with paratuberculosis

VERNA A, MORSELLA C, ZUMARRAGA M, GIOFFRE A, ROMANO M, CATALDI A, PAOLICCHI F

Bilbao, Spain

Congreso; 7th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis; 2002

The deficiency of some minerals in blood could predispose to the onset of Paratuberculosis in cattle. With the objective of studying such relationship, samples of blood, serum, and feces were obtained from 90 bovine adults without clinical symptom of two meat herds of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Drinking water and pasture samples were taken. Serum was processed by the absorbed ELISA to identify seroreactors, while feces were individually cultured in tubes containing Herrold medium with and without mycobactin, plus pyruvate and antibiotic, and were observed during four months to development of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map). In serum. copper, zinc, and iron concentration was quantified by spectrophotometry ot atomic absorption and selenium concentration, by activity of peroxidase glutathione. In pasture, copper, zinc, iron, and molybdenum concentration was measured. The pH of water and the concentration of sultates were determined. Of the 90 animals. 16 (17.7%) were positive to absorbed ELISA, of these 6 (37.5%) were positive to Map, of these, 4 (66.6%) were deficient in copper (x:O.4 ug/ml) and selenium (x:20.8 UGPx/gHb), while their values of iron (x:1.4 ug/ml) and zinc (x:1.3 u.g/ml) were normal. Another 6 (6.66%) animals suspicious through absorbed ELISA and positive to Map culture. showed low values of copper (x:O.6 ug/ml). Iron (1391.4ppm) and molybdenum (2.4 ppm) values in pasture were high, what would affect copper absorption at ruminal level. Zinc (34.8 ppm) and copper (7 ppm) values, as well as sultates (213 mg L) were normal in water with an alkaline pH. Selenium deficiency and primary or secondary deficiency copper due to the presence of antagonists, as iron, molybdenum. or sulfates could indicate predisposition to the development of Paratuberculosis in meat cattle.