A Case of Paratuberculosis (Johne’s Disease) in Vrindavani Cattle

An adult female crossbred cattle was presented for necropsy at post mortem facility of Division of Pathology, ICAR-IVRI, Izatnagar with clinical history of chronic diarrhoea, progressive weight loss, reduction in milk yield and poor response to therapy. External examination of carcass revealed poor body condition with skin abrasions at dorsal surface of left metacarpal area and near to perineal area. Gross examination of the carcass revealed transverse corrugation in jejunum and ileum and enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes. Cut sections of the intestine and lymph nodes revealed congestion, edema and granulomatous lesions. Ziehl-Neelsen staining of impression smear and tissue section from jejunum, ileum and lymph nodes depicted pink-red, short, stumpy acid fast bacilli. Microscopic examination revealed desquamation of enterocytes, flattening of villi and presence of large number of macrophages, epitheloid cells multinucleated giant cells in the mucosa and submucosa of jejunum& ileum. Lymphoid depletion with infiltration of multinucleated giant cell was seen in subcapsular spaces of mesenteric lymph nodes. Molecular diagnosis with PCR revealed amplification of 400bp for IS900 gene specific for Johne’s bacilli. The case was found to be confirmatory for paratuberculosis based on gross, histological, and molecular analysis.