Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis and M. a. avium detected by culture, IS900 and IS901 highly sensitive PCR in bulk tank milk from dairy herds in the Czech Republic between 2002 and 2004

In this study, the possible presence was monitored of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) and Mycobacterium avium subspecies avium (MAA) by means of culture examination and PCR in 251 bulk tank milk samples from dairy herds in the Czech Republic between 2002 and 2004. The detection of MAP and MAP DNA in repeatedly collected bulk tank milk (BTM) samples from the selected cattle farms (seven farms) was the second purpose of the study. By culture, MAP was detected in 5 (2.0%) and MAP DNA in 85 (33.9%) of the total of 251 BTM samples. MAA was detected by culture and by PCR in 1 (0.4%) of the 251 BTM samples. This study demonstrates the presence of MAP and MAA in dairy herds in the Czech Republic.