Pathology of subclinical paratuberculosis in goats of Mahakausal region

The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence and the associated enteric pathology of subclinical paratuberculosis in goats of Mahakausal region. Tissue samples including intestine, mesenteric and ileocaecal lymph nodes were collected from 70 goats and examined for presence of acid-fast bacilli in the smears, MAP genome by IS 900 PCR and gross/histopathological changes. The postmortem prevalence of subclinical paratuberculosis was recorded in 7.14% (5/70) goats by Ziehl Neelsen staining of the intestine and lymph node smears and MAP genome was detected in intestine tissue of 4.28% (3/70) goats. Characteristics gross lesions of paratuberculosis were observed as mild to moderate thickening of intestinal wall and focal to generalized mucosal corrugation. Mesenteric lymph nodes were pale, oedematous and enlarged. The microscopic lesions in intestine and mesenteric lymph nodes were characterized by infiltration of macrophages, lymphocytes and epithelioid cells. Histopathologically lesions were classified as paucibacillary and multibacillary based on inflammatory cell infiltration and distribution of acid fast bacilli(AFB) laden epithelioid cells.