Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Map) has been isolated from a crescent number of animal species, including non-ruminant wildlife species, suggesting its host range may be wider than previously noticed. In Spain, there is only one study dealing with the presence of Map in free-ranging fallow deer (Marco and others 2002). A survey in different species of wildlife and peridomestic animals was conducted to clarify the importance of these animals in the epidemiology of paratuberculosis in Spain. Four sampling areas in properties with previously diagnosed paratuberculosis, located in the middle and the south of Spain, were chosen. Several wild animals from other locations were also included in the study. Animals were frozen immediately after catch and sent to the laboratory to be subjected to necropsy, or the necropsy was performed in the field and the frozen samples were submitted to the laboratory. Intestine, mesenteric lymph nodes, liver and spleen were routinely cultured. Grown mycobacteria were identified by PCR and sequencing if necessary. To date 455 animals from 16 species of birds (anseriforms, galliforms, columbiforms, falconiforms and paseriforms) and 13 species of mammals (artiodactyls, carnivores, mustelids, lagomorphs and rodents) were analysed. Two Map isolates were obtained from a wild boar and a fallow deer of the same area. The wild boar isolate was the first obtained from this species in Spain (Álvarez and others 2005). Fourteen different species of rapid growing mycobacteria, some of which are opportunistic pathogen for humans, were also identified.Despite very low frequencies of detection found in the animal species under this study, the epidemiological consequences should be considered with caution. These infected animals represent a source of environmental contamination, where Map is able to persist for long periods of time.

Sponsorship

Attendance to this Congress was sponsored by the EU-funded project SSPE-CT-2004-501903