Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis from free-ranging deer and rabbits surrounding Minnesota dairy herds

The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) among deer and rabbits surrounding infected and noninfected Minnesota dairy farms using fecal culture, and to describe the frequency that farm management practices were used that could potentially lead to transmission of infection between these species. Fecal samples from cows and the cow environment were collected from 108 Minnesota dairy herds, and fecal pellets from free-ranging white-tailed deer and eastern cottontail rabbits were collected from locations surrounding 114 farms; all samples were tested using bacterial culture. In addition, a questionnaire was administered to 114 herd owners. Sixty-two percent of the dairy herds had at least 1 positive fecal pool or environmental sample. A total of 218 rabbit samples were collected from 90% of the herds, and 309 deer samples were collected from 47% of the herds. On 2 (4%) of the farms sampled, 1 deer fecal sample was MAP positive. Both farms had samples from the cow fecal pool and cow environment that were positive by culture. On 2 (2%) other farms, 1 rabbit fecal sample was positive by culture to MAP, with one of these farms having positive cow fecal pools and cow environmental samples. Pasture was used on 79% of the study farms as a grazing area for cattle, mainly for dry cows (75%) and bred or prebred heifers (87%). Of the 114 farms, 88 (77%) provided access to drylot for their cattle, mainly for milking cows (77/88; 88%) and bred heifers (87%). Of all study farms, 90 (79%) used some solid manure broadcasting on their crop fields. Of all 114 farms, the estimated probability of daily physical contact between cattle manure and deer or rabbits was 20% and 25%, respectively. Possible contact between cattle manure and deer or rabbits was estimated to occur primarily from March through December. The frequency of pasture or drylot use and manure spreading on crop fields may be important risk factors for transmission of MAP among dairy cattle, deer, and rabbits. Although the MAP prevalence among rabbits and deer is low, their role as MAP reservoirs should be considered.     

Seroprevalence of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis infection among dairy cows in Colorado and herd-level risk factors for seropositivity

OBJECTIVE: To estimate seroprevalence of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis (MAP) infection among adult dairy cows in Colorado and determine herd-level factors associated with the risk that individual cows would be seropositive. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. ANIMALS: 10,280 adult (> or = 2 years old) dairy cows in 15 herds in Colorado. PROCEDURE: Serum samples were tested with a commercial ELISA. A herd was considered to be infected with MAP if results of mycobacterial culture of > or = 1 individual cow fecal sample were positive or if > or = 1 culled cow had histologic evidence of MAP infection. RESULTS: 424 of the 10,280 (4.12%) cows were seropositive. Within-herd prevalence of seropositive cows ranged from 0% to 7.82% (mean, 2.6%). Infection was confirmed in 11 dairies. Cows in herds that had imported > or = 8% of their current herd size annually during the preceding 5 years were 3.28 times as likely to be seropositive as were cows in herds that imported < 8%. Cows in herds with > or = 600 lactating cows were 3.12 times as likely to be seropositive as were cows in herds with < 600 lactating cows. Cows in herds with a history of clinical signs of MAP infection were 2.27 times as likely to be seropositive as were cows in herds without clinical signs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Annual importation rate, herd size, and whether cows in the herd had clinical signs typical of MAP infection were associated with the risk that individual cows would be seropositive for MAP infection.     

Herd-level prevalence of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis by bulk-tank milk PCR in Fars province (southern Iran) dairy herds

A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to August 2006 in dairy herds in Fars province, southern Iran to determine the herd-level prevalence of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection. Bulk-tank milk samples were collected from 110 dairy herds in the 3 districts (Shiraz, Marvdasht and Sepidan) of the province. Among study populations, 12 herds (11%, 95%CI: 5-17%) were positive for MAP infection based on IS900 nested PCR. The prevalence of positive milk samples in the three districts of Fars province was different ranging from 8.6% to 23% which was not statistically significant (P=0.19). It is recommended to conduct further epidemiologic studies to determine cow-level prevalence and risk factors for infection, and to evaluate the economic consequences of the MAP infection in the region.     

Seroprevalence of and agroecological risk factors for Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis and neospora caninum infection among adult beef cattle in cow-calf herds in Alberta, Canada

A province-wide cross-sectional seroprevalence and agroecological risk factor study of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) and Neospora caninum (NC) infection among cattle in 100 cow-calf herds in Alberta was conducted. The seroprevalence of MAP in adult cattle was 1.5% across all herds. Using a widely accepted herd test cutpoint of 2 or more seropositive cows out of 30 animals tested, 7.9% of herds were estimated to be infected (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.3-23.4%). Seroprevalence of MAP differed by agroecological region; specifically, cattle and herds in areas with high soil pH (> 7.0), southern latitudes, and arid climates had a moderately reduced risk of infection (P < 0.10). Seroprevalence of NC infection was 9.7% among adult beef cattle province-wide--these levels also varied by agroecological region--with 91.0% of herds infected overall.     

Occurrence of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis and Neospora caninum in Alberta cow-calf operations

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) and Neospora caninum (NC) are two pathogens causing important production limiting diseases in the cattle industry. Significant impacts of MAP and NC have been reported on dairy cattle herds, but little is known about the importance, risk factors and transmission patterns in western Canadian cow-calf herds. In this cross-sectional study, the prevalence of MAP and NC infection in southwest Alberta cow-calf herds was estimated, risk factors for NC were identified, and the reproductive impacts of the two pathogens were assessed.     

Evidence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection in Dutch farmed red deer

Paratuberculosis is a chronic disease in ruminants caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). Most economic losses due to MAP occur in the dairy industry. However, the infection is not restricted to cattle, but also occurs in other ruminants, such as sheep, goat, and deer. Although deer are of minimal economic importance in The Netherlands, they may constitute a source of infection for the dairy industry. This pilot study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of Johne's disease in farmed red deer in The Netherlands. Serum and faecal samples were collected from 140 animals, originating from 8 different farms. Four of the farms had animals that tested positive for Johne's disease. The within-herd MAP seroprevalence varied between 4.8% and 21.2%. In conclusion, this pilot study provides evidence of MAP infection in the Dutch farmed deer population, and thus there might be a risk of MAP transmission between farmed red deer and dairy cattle.     

Histological and immunohistochemical characterisation of Mycobacterium bovis induced granulomas in naturally infected Fallow deer (Dama dama)

Mycobacterium bovis infections in fallow deer have been reported in different countries and play an important role in the epidemiology of bovine tuberculosis (bTB), together with other deer species. There is little knowledge of the pathogenesis of bTB in fallow deer. The aim of this study was to perform a histopathological characterisation of the granulomas induced by M. bovis in this species and the immunohistochemical distribution of different cell subsets (CD3+, CD79+, macrophages) and chemical mediators (iNOS, TNF-α, IFN-γ) in the different developmental stages of granulomas. Stage I/II granulomas showed a marked presence of macrophages (MAC387+) expressing high iNOS levels while stage III/IV granulomas showed a decrease in the number of these cells forming a rim surrounding the necrotic foci. This was correlated with the presence of IFN-γ expressing cell counts, much higher in stage I/II than in stage III/IV. The number of B cells increased alongside the developmental stage of the granuloma, and interestingly the expression of TNF-α was very low in all the stages. This characterisation of the lesions and the local immune response may be helpful as basic knowledge in the attempts to increase the vaccine efficacy as well as for disease severity evaluation and for the development of improved diagnostic tools. Immunohistochemical methods using several commercial antibodies in fallow deer tissues are described.     

Experiences from the Danish programme for eradication of bovine virus diarrhoea (BVD) 1994-1998 with special reference to legislation and causes of infection

The main experiences from the Danish bovine virus diarrhoea (BVD) eradication programme over 5 years from 1994 to 1999 are presented. The last 3 years of the programme has been strongly supported by legislation. The most important regulations have been blood testing of live animals before movement to other herds, common pastures or exhibitions, and monitoring of all herds at regular intervals for the presence of the infection. Nevertheless, free herds have experienced infection, e.g., 204 dairy herds in 1998. Of herds found to be infected in the period from July 1997 through June 1998 after previously having been registered to be BVD-free, 67 herds were thoroughly investigated. Nineteen herds (28%) were found infected because of purchase of pregnant cows or heifers which delivered persistently infected (PI) calves, and 24 (36%) and two (3%) because of PI animals on neighbouring pastures or in neighbouring farm houses, respectively. In five herds (7%) pregnant heifers had become infected on one and the same common pasture, while in 17 herds (25%) no immediate cause of infection could be demonstrated. Yet, airborne spread from PI herds as a source of infection was suspected in some of these cases. It was furthermore concluded from investigations presented, that antibody-positive AI bulls were a remote but unlikely possibility. Free-living deer in Denmark had to be considered uninfected. Presence of PI-animals in sheep on infected farms has been seen and is paid attention to in individual cases. The results underline the need for legislation to be used in eradication programmes in areas with a high prevalence of infection and to be introduced right from the beginning in order to minimise the risk of infection for free herds.     

Observations of leptospirosis in farmed deer

AIMS: Slaughterhouse and on-farm surveys were undertaken to investigate some aspects of leptospirosis (Leptospira interrogans) in farmed deer in the lower North Island of New Zealand. METHODS: Blood samples and kidneys were collected at slaughter from 601 l-year and older red and red X Wapiti stags and 21 adult hinds from 53 farms (10 or 12 deer per farm). Serum samples were analysed for up to seven Leptospiral serovars. Gross and histological examinations of kidneys were undertaken. Kidneys from 202 deer were cultured for leptospires. A follow-up postal questionnaire (68% response) indicated one herd had been vaccinated prior to the survey. Serological analyses were also carried out on serum bank samples from a previous on-farm survey involving male and female weaner, yearling and adult red deer from 16 commercial deer farms in March and November. RESULTS: Serological reactions at titres > or = 96 to serovar hardjo were present in 73.6%, pomona in 41.5%, copenhageni in 11.3% and tarassovi in 15.1% of farms from the slaughterhouse survey. Antibodies to serovars australis, ballam and balanica were present in three, one and four of six herds studied, respectively. Titre prevalence to hardjo was higher than that of pomona and other serovars within farms. Cultures for Leptospira were positive in 10 stags from six lines with similar prevalence across age groups. Histological examination showed many gross lesions were associated with mild interstitial cellular infiltration characteristic of subclinical Leptospiral infections. Some sections from culture-positive kidneys contained spirochetes in renal tubules. The on-farm survey showed a 10-30% within-herd prevalence of pomona and hardjo titres in 56% of 3-month-old deer herds, but by 11 months of age, 100% of herds were titre-positive with high prevalences to one or both serovars. Concurrently, herds of 1-year-old and adult deer on the same farms were all seropositive. CONCLUSION: This study has shown that Leptospiral infections are common in farmed deer in the survey area.     

Seroprevalence of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis, Neospora caninum, Bovine leukemia virus, and Bovine viral diarrhea virus infection among dairy cattle and herds in Alberta and agroecological risk factors associated with seropositivity

A province-wide, cross-sectional seroprevalence and agroecological risk factor study of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), Neospora caninum (NC), Bovine leukemia virus (BLV), and Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDv) genotypes 1 and 2 (BVDv1 and BVDv2) infection in dairy cattle herds in Alberta was conducted. Among adults, the seroprevalence of MAP, NC, and BLV was 9.1%, 18.5%, and 26.9%, respectively. For MAP, based on a herd test cutpoint of 2 or more seropositive cows, 58.8% of herds were infected. Herd-level seroprevalence for NC and BLV was 98.7% and 86.7%, respectively, based on a herd-test cutpoint of 1 seropositive cow. Among unvaccinated dairy heifers, the seroprevalence for BVDv1 and BVDv2 infection was 28.4% and 8.9%, respectively, while herd-level infection was 53.4% and 19.7%. Seroprevalence for MAP varied moderately by agroecological region, whereas that for NC, BLV, and BVDv1 and BVDv2 did not. For MAP, aridity and soil pH (correlated features of the region) were also important.     

Herd characteristics and management practices associated with seroprevalence of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis infection in dairy herds

OBJECTIVE: To investigate herd characteristics and management practices associated with a high seroprevalence of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis (MAP) in dairy herds in central California. SAMPLE POPULATION: 60 randomly selected cows from each of 21 dairy herds. PROCEDURES: Sera of selected cows were tested for antibodies against MAP by use of an ELISA test kit. Cows with a test sample-to-positive control sample (S:P) ratio of > or = 0.25 were considered seropositive, and herds with > or = 4% seropositive cows were considered high-seroprevalence herds. Data on herd characteristics and management practices were collected via interviews with owners. Bayesian logistic regression was used to model the predictive probability of a herd having a high seroprevalence on the basis of various herd characteristics and management practices. RESULTS: 9 of 21 (43%) herds were classified as high-seroprevalence herds. Five variables (history of previous signs of paratuberculosis in the herd, herd size, exposing cattle to water from manure storage lagoons, feeding unsalable milk to calves, and exposing heifers < or = 6 months old to manure of adult cows) were included in the predictive model on the basis of statistical and biological considerations. In large herds, the predictive probability of a high seroprevalence of MAP infection decreased from 0.74 to 0.39 when management changed from poor to good practices. In small herds, a similar decrease from 0.64 to 0.29 was predicted. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The seroprevalence of MAP infection in California dairies may be reduced by improvements in herd management practices.     

No evidence that wild red deer (Cervus elaphus) on the Iberian Peninsula are a reservoir of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infection

The potential role of red deer (Cervus elaphus) as a reservoir of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection is largely unknown. A total of 332 wild red deer were investigated using post-mortem examination, bacteriology and serology. Only three animals (1.12%) were found to have lesions on histopathological examination and no MAP bacteria were recovered on culture. The results suggest it is unlikely that wild red deer make a significant contribution to the maintenance of MAP infection in the region. The cross-reactivity of the ELISAs used indicates this diagnostic modality is ineffective in the detection of MAP infection in this species. The implications of these results for the control of this important pathogen in both livestock and wildlife are discussed.     

Modelling transmission dynamics of paratuberculosis of red deer under pastoral farming conditions

This study aimed to develop a mathematical model describing the dynamics of paratuberculosis (PTB) in red deer (Cervus elaphus) under pastoral farming conditions in New Zealand. The model examined infectivity differences between ovine and bovine strains of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) and seasonality of MAP survival. We also evaluate variable use of pasture and the effect of management interventions on the infection prevalence and annual clinical incidence of PTB. A state-transition model was developed and calibrated to observed data on both prevalence of infection and incidence of clinical PTB. To accommodate specific PTB features for deer, the model included a fast and a slow track for progression of infection to disease. MAP on pasture was the source for horizontal transmission and infected dams for vertical transmission. In the presence of a single strain, an infectivity reduction of up to 80% allowed MAP to persist in the herd (R(0)>1). For mixed infection by two strains however, a 30% reduction in infectivity of one strain was sufficient to outcompete a strain with lower infectivity, suggesting that mixed infection of MAP strains with different infectivity may not be common in deer. The model showed that seasonal variation of MAP survival on pasture had little impact on transmission dynamics, and that rotational grazing with pasture spelling vs. permanent grazing of the same paddock reduced both infection prevalence and clinical PTB by about 50%. Based on model outputs, early detection of young deer in a high-shedding state was the most effective means of controlling PTB among the tested scenarios.     

Spatial differences in occurrence of paratuberculosis in Danish dairy herds and in control programme participation

Paratuberculosis is a chronic infection of economic importance to the cattle industry and a voluntary control programme is offered to Danish dairy farmers. Our objective was to evaluate spatial differences in both control programme participation and paratuberculosis prevalence in Denmark. The study included 4414 dairy herds: 1249 were participating in the control programme, and 1503 were tested for antibodies to Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). Spatial differences were evaluated by kernel smoothing, kriging, and cluster analysis. Participation was lowest among herds on the island Zealand (≤23%). The risk of a herd being infected with MAP was found to be high on most of Zealand, but the uncertainty of this result was large due to a limited number of tested herds. In the rest of the country, the south western part of the peninsula Jutland had the highest risk of MAP (≥91%). The risk of MAP was also high (86-91%) in the northern part of both Jutland and Funen. The predicted apparent within-herd prevalence was highest (5-8.5%) in some local areas across Jutland, in the north western part of the island Funen, and in the south and western part of Zealand. Scan statistics located the primary cluster of herds with high apparent within-herd prevalence in the western part of Funen. Furthermore, a number of significant clusters were found in Jutland and a single significant cluster in Zealand. Consistency was found between kriging and scan statistics results with respect to location of areas with high apparent within-herd prevalence of MAP. Potential explanations for differences in participation include herd size and local herd health advisers, whereas for example soil characteristics might influence prevalence. Further studies are needed to evaluate these and other risk factors.     

Use of a polymerase chain reaction to subtype Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis, an increasingly important pathogen from farmed deer in New Zealand

AIMS: To review the number of microbiologically-confirmed cases of Johne's disease in farmed deer since 2000, and determine the prevalence of the bovine and ovine subtypes of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis (M. paratuberculosis), using a highly specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test on samples from infected herds. METHODS: The number of cases of M. paratuberculosis in farmed deer identified by culture or IS900 PCR was documented. A highly specific PCR test was applied to subtype M. paratuberculosis from BACTEC 12B cultures selected on the basis of one culture per deer herd, to give a wide coverage of herds in New Zealand. RESULTS: From January 2001 to October 2005, M. paratuberculosis was isolated from 1,141 farmed deer, and has now been identified by microbiological testing in over 600 deer herds in New Zealand. The bovine subtype of M. paratuberculosis was shown by a highly specific PCR test to be present in 91/95 herds examined; the ovine subtype was found in the remaining four herds. CONCLUSIONS: Since 2000, there has been a substantial increase in both the number of microbiologically-confirmed cases of Johne's disease in farmed deer and the number of infected herds. Johne's disease is now widespread and common in deer herds throughout New Zealand. Whilst the bovine subtype of M. paratuberculosis predominates in deer herds in New Zealand in which Johne's disease has been confirmed, the occasional finding of the ovine subtype highlights the need to consider both sheep and cattle as potential sources of infection for farmed deer.     

Diagnostic detection methods for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in white-tailed deer

This study compares the results and suitability of serological testing, microscopic examination, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) detection, and bacterial culture for detecting Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) infection in asymptomatic farmed white-tailed deer (WTD) (Odocoileus virginianus). Deer were classified as infected if culture slants from their feces, lymph nodes, or ileum were positive, or if a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay detected Map DNA in any of its tissues. Deer identified as positive by agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) testing or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) but not by bacterial culture, Ziehl-Neelsen staining, or PCR assay were classified as suspect. Culture of tissues classified 10/16 (62.5%), histopathologic examination 1/16 (6.3%), tissue smears 4/16 (25%), culture slant (CS)-PCR on feces 12/15 (80%), CS-PCR on tissue 13/16 (81.3%), and direct PCR on uncultured tissues 5/16 (31.3%) deer as infected. The ELISA classified 2/15 (13.3%) deer as positive and therefore suspect. The AGID test was negative for all deer. Fifteen of 16 deer were positive by 1 or more tests; only 1 deer was negative on all 11 assays. The CS-PCR gave superior results on antemortem fecal testing as well as postmortem tissue testing and can be recommended for improving the detection of Map in WTD at every stage of infection.     

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in wild animal species and cattle in Styria/Austria

Infections with Mycobacterium ovium ssp. paratuberculosis (M. paratuberculosis) are increasingly recognised worldwide. In addition to an increased prevalence of paratuberculosis in Austrian cattle herds, recent years have also shown a rise in infections with M. paratuberculosis in wild red and roe deer, chamois and mouflon. During the period from June 2002 to September 2004, mesenteric lymph nodes were taken from a total of 483 wild animals hunted or found dead and from 338 deceased cattle. Samples were analysed using PCR and cultivation methods. In the case of pathomorphological changes or anamnestic indications, investigations also included an analysis of organ samples (e.g. liver, lung) or foetuses. The tests revealed that 129 wild animal samples (red deer, roe deer, chamois, mouflon, fallow deer, ibex, foxes, mountain hare, yellow-necked field mouse, and capercaillie) contained M. paratuberculosis. The major symptoms in the wild aninodes. Evidence of diarrhoea was only observed in about 15% of the positive cases. The study for the first time provided evidence of intrauterine transmission of M. paratuberculosis in red deer (3 cases) and chamois (1 case) and succeeded in the isolation of the pathogen from the liver, lung and subcutaneous granulomas of wild animals. Of the total of 338 mesenteric lymphnodes of cattle from 303 herds, 80 samples from 77 herds tested positive for paratuberculosis. Twenty-two wild animal and 3 cattle isolates have so far been molecularly typed using IS900-RFLP and RAPD analyses in order to prove epidemiological relationships between occurrences in cattle and wild animals. The increase of paratuberculosis in wild animal species is assumed to have been caused by the purchase of animals, a strong increase in suckler cow farming (cow-calf herds) with a concentration of pathogens in the environment and by inadequate feed hygiene for wild animals.     

Identification of Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis infected dairy herds by environmental sampling

In herds with known prevalence (P) use of environmental sampling (ES) to detect Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) infected cattle herds was proofed in relation to P. In 31 MAP-infected free stall dairy herds and 15 non-infected herds P was defined by annually repeated whole herd testing by fecal culture (34 877 individual samples). Eight infected herds had a very low (> 0-2%), 14 a low (> 2-5%), four a medium (> 5-10%), and five a high P (> 10%). A mean number of nine environmental samples per herd were collected from the floor of lactating cows, milking, calving and sick cow areas and the crossover to the calf area. After twelve weeks cultivation on HEYM-medium with and without mycobactin positive samples were further characterized by PCR. All non-infected herds (100%) showed negative and 22 (71%) of the infected herds positive results in ES. Nine infected herds with negative ES results had a low P (0.04-4,04%). Proportion of positive ES depended on P and on sampling areas with 53.3% positive results in lactating cow areas and 45.2% in milking areas. For P > 5%, ES in these two areas caused a positive herd status; herds with P < 5% required sampling in the other areas too. The ES method has a herd sensitivity of 87% for dairy herds with P > 2% and provides an efficient tool to determine MAP infection status or herd prevalence.     

Herd-based monitoring for tuberculosis in extensive swedish deer herds by culling and meat inspection rather than by intradermal tuberculin testing

The effect of random slaughter and meat inspection as a tool to detect or eradicate tuberculosis in large, extensive deer herds in Sweden was evaluated. A computer spreadsheet model based on the Reed-Frost method was developed. Numbers of new infections and of infected deer slaughtered as well as probability of detecting tuberculosis or slaughtering all infected deer in a herd, were simulated. The model predicted that, given a 20% annual slaughter and that disease was introduced with one infected deer, the infection would be detected or eliminated in most herds (90%) after 15 years.     

Association between cattle herd Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) infection and infection of a hare population

Paratuberculosis has long been considered a disease of domestic and wild ruminants only. The known host range of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) was recently extended to include non-ruminant wildlife species believed to be exposed to spillover of MAP from infected domestic cattle herds. The aim of the present study was to assess the association between cattle herd MAP infection pressure level and the infection level of a hare population in two dairy farms of southern Chile. Fifty hares from a herd A and 42 hares from herd B were captured and sampled for MAP culture. The results showed a statistically significant association between the cattle herds’ infection prevalence and the hare infection prevalence.