Paratuberculosis: new histopathological findings in red deer (Cervus elaphus) and fallow deer (Dama dama) in Chile

Abstract

Paratuberculosis is a disease caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) that affects domestic and wild ruminants. The most common gross lesions are emaciation and corrugation and thickening of the mucosa of the small intestine. Mesenteric lymph nodes might be enlarged. For the present study, 14 red deer and 9 fallow deer from game reserves or venison farms were analyzed. The lesions found correspond to those found by other authors in other geographic locations, except for some differences in histopathological examinations. Among these differences, stands out that intestinal lesions were concentrated mostly in the ileum and granulomas were shown to be more frequent in this section of the intestine than in the corresponding lymph node. Furthermore, in multibacillary lesions the inflammatory infiltrate in the lymph nodes was mainly composed of macrophages. These differences may be due to individual variations of the animals, the stage of disease or a different strain of the pathogen. This study allowed to obtain basic information about the disease and to describe patterns of lesions found in red deer and fallow deer with prediagnosis of clinical paratuberculosis which were not described in the literature before.

Systematic Assessment of Mycobacterium avium Subspecies Paratuberculosis Infections from 1911–2019: A Growth Analysis of Association with Human Autoimmune Diseases

“…Also, the possibility of zoonotic transmission of MAP from wild herds to domestic/zoological reserves’ herds and from either herd forms to humans could not be overemphasised [ 47 ] most especially, in countries (e.g., South Africa) where domestic herds and wild games are farmed together on the same piece of land. Some recent studies related to MAP infections in wild games include deer in Bulgaria and Chile [ 48 , 49 ], 34.4% incidence of MAP in Anas species (wild duck) populations in Korea [ 50 ], and wild-born Procavia capensis (rock hyraxes) imported from South Africa to Germany [ 47 ].…”

Mixed Mycobacterium avium subspecies avium and M avium subspecies paratuberculosis infection in a wild red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Belgium

“…Of note, hepatic lesions induced by Map are infrequently reported in cervids. 32 The mesenteric lymph nodes were enlarged (10 times normal size), pale and firm. Once cut, they presented numerous yellowish and firm nodules (1-3 mm diameter) with central calcification.…”

“…The hepatic lymph nodes was enlarged, firm and presented yellowish pigmented nodular foci found at the cutting surface (figure 2). Of note, hepatic lesions induced by Map are infrequently reported in cervids 32…”

Characteristics of subclinical Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis infection in a captive white-tailed deer herd

“…MAP has been isolated from fallow deer ( Dama dama ), 26,45,53 sika deer ( Cervus nippon ), 53 white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ), 22,25,49 key deer ( Odocoileus virginianus clavium ), 34,44 axis deer ( Axis axis ), 45 red deer ( Cervus elaphus ), 19,26,48,55 elk ( Cervus elaphus canadensis ), 16,28 western roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ), 42,48 and tule elk ( Cervus canadensis nannodes ). 23 Paratuberculosis is well described in red deer in New Zealand where semi-intensive deer farming is well established and paratuberculosis is a serious problem.…”