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M ycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infects wide variety of animals and is endemic in the domestic livestock population of the country (Singh et al., 2010a). MAP has also been associated with Inflammatory Bowel disease (Crohn's disease) in human beings (Singh et al., 2008). Live cultivable MAP bacilli have been reported from milk based food items (ice creams, cheese, condensed milk,

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In the present study, Indirect Fluorescent antibody test (iFAT) has been used as the "screening test" for the detection of MAP bacilli in the milk samples of lactating domestic livestock. A total of 372 milk samples from lactating animals were screened by iFAT and results were compared with microscopy of milk samples and milk ELISA test. Comparative analysis of the results of three tests showed that iFAT had fairly good sensitivity (84.7%) and specificity (90.4%), with respect to ZN staining (microscopy) with kappa value of 0.735 and "good" strength of agreement. Similar comparison with milk ELISA test revealed, sensitivity (73.3%) and specificity of (72.6%) with kappa value of 0.443 and strength of agreement was moderate. Lower or higher difference in sensitivity and specificity of iFAT with respect to ZN staining and milk ELISA may be due to the difference in detection "target" of the test i.e., antigen or antibody. It was concluded that iFAT was a reliable and sensitive diagnostic test for the detection of MAP in milk and can also be used for the "mass screening" of the milk samples.