The histopathologic diagnosis of subclinical Johne’s disease in North American Bison (Bison bison)

doi:10.1016/S0378-1135(00)00317-5

Veterinary Microbiology

Volume 77, Issues 3–4, 20 December 2000, Pages 325-331

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1135(00)00317-5 Get rights and content

Abstract

The morphologic changes of subclinical Johne’s disease in North American Bison (Bison bison) are characterized by microgranulomas composed of epithelioid macrophages and individual multinucleate giant cells of Langhans’-type occasionally containing individual cytoplasmic acid-fast bacilli compatible with Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis. The microgranulomas are best visualized in the mesenteric lymph nodes of infected subclinical animals. Macrophages that can be confused with infection-associated epithelioid macrophages in the mesenteric lymph nodes are pigment-carrying cells from the intestinal tract. Mesenteric lymph node biopsy may be a useful diagnostic tool for detection of mild subclinical infection in individual ruminants from herds of unknown infection status. The biopsy may also be useful for Johne’s disease surveillance during test-and-cull programs.

Introduction

Paratuberculosis (Johne’s disease), a chronic infectious disease of domestic, wild and zoo ruminants, has been recognized throughout the world since its first description in 1895. The causative agent is Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis, a facultative intracellular acid-fast bacillus. Most diseased ruminants acquire infection as neonates.

Preferred tests for the diagnosis of Johne’s disease are divided into two major categories: (i) agent detection methods; (ii) specific serum antibody/cell-mediated immunity detection methods. Agent detection tests include bacterial culture, genetic probes and histologic examination of target tissue confined to the small intestine and associated mesenteric lymph nodes. Preferred serologic tests include ELISA.

Infected animals move through a spectrum of immunologic and morphologic changes (Cocito et al., 1994). They pass through three main disease stages classified as: (i) subclinical, non-shedding; (ii) subclinical, shedding; (iii) clinical and intermittently or permanently shedding. Each of these stages is associated with pathologic changes which are best recognized at the microscopic level. The microscopic diagnosis of advanced clinical Johne’s disease (stage (iii)) is no challenge to the pathologist (Buergelt et al., 1978). Subclinical disease is more difficult to diagnose microscopically as lesions may be subtle and organisms may be rare. In addition, expertise and the diagnostic criteria may vary between institutions. The objectives of this report are to highlight morphologic features needed for the confirmatory diagnosis of subclinical paratuberculosis and to emphasize pitfalls of interpretation.

Section snippets

Materials and methods

The tissues for this study were obtained from North American bison (Bison bison) that were slaughtered as part of a Johne’s disease surveillance program. The bison were from a breeding herd totaling 2800 animals. The presence of Johne’s disease was established for the herd through previous morphologic carcass examination and tissue culture of M. avium paratuberculosis from target organs. The group of animals (in permanent herd record numbered 28–52) was comprised of 23 female bison selected for

Results

Six of the 23 bison were considered positive for infection with M. avium paratuberculosis in that they fulfilled the set criteria of cellular granulomatous inflammation and the demonstration of one or more intracellular acid-fast bacilli (Table 1). Six animals were classified as suspicious for Johne’s disease as they revealed characteristic microgranulomas only, but no acid-fast bacilli (Table 1). Eleven animals were considered negative as to infection status in that they did not reveal

Discussion

Unlike with bovine tuberculosis a systematic time-frame study has not been done with paratuberculosis. The morphology of uptake of M. avium paratuberculosis by intestinal M-cells (membranous epithelial or microfold cells) was experimentally studied, but not pursued beyond succeeding events within the intestinal tract (Momotani et al., 1988). Uptake and transport through intestinal M-cells is a route of intestinal antigen delivery which may be effective in the initial phase of infection with M.

Conclusion

The diagnosis of clinical paratuberculosis at the morphologic level is no challenge to the pathologist. It is more difficult to diagnose infection histologically in subclinical paratuberculosis. For this approach to be successful several (three minimum) mesenteric lymph nodes should be collected and examined for the presence of microgranulomas and/or of acid-fast bacilli characteristic for M. avium paratuberculosis. Pathologists should adhere to uniformly established guidelines and morphologic

Acknowledgements

We thank Ms. Margie Taylor for providing us with the bison specimens for this study. We thank Mrs. Glenda Eldred for excellent technical help with the preparation of the glass slides.

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The histopathologic diagnosis of subclinical Johne’s disease in North American Bison (Bison bison)

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Materials and methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion

Acknowledgements

The efficacy of mesenteric lymph node biopsy in the eradication of paratuberculosis from an infected dairy farm

Vet. Quart.

Pathological evaluation of paratuberculosis in naturally infected cattle

Vet. Pathol.