Johnes Disease in Cervids

Has anyone had any experience with this bovine chronic diarhea in captive deer. What was your treatment?

Thanks,

Jim

I am no vet but I think the only way to treat this is the same way the dairy people treat their herds, and that is by simply culling them out. My understanding is this is passed on from generation to generation and that one animal can infect the pasture area and cause it to be spread to others in the herd as well.

Over the years we tested on occasion just to see if we had it in any of our animals and we never did. Thank God because had we I would have shot them all and closed shop based on what I was always told about the disease. I would not have ever wanted to sell an animal and then infect someone else's herd.

For that reason I recommend testing for it and not just assuming that is what you have. The test can take a long time to get back the results. But once it comes and you have confirmed a negative it is a good feeling.



Here is a link to read up on it. Good luck!



http://www.johnesdisease.org/Q&A.html

Robbie!!!!!! This one is yours! I know you can offer tons of advice.

We had a farm up this way with red deer that had it and they were treated for it.Im not sure what they treated with!!

There was an elk farmer who had it in his herd. He bought an elk which came down with the disease. I do know that he had a vet test his animals every six months and culled any that were tested positive. He tested for four years and never did get rid of the disease. I don't think there is a cure for it. Sounded like your herd was never to be trusted again as some always showed up on every test.

Johnes is untreatable. Infected animals must be culled a soon as possible to try to avoid it spreading. It is very contagious and is shed through manure. Once an animal gets it they have for life. Once you have a confirmed case of it the state is notified and paperwork is done on the animal to ensure it does not get sold to another individual. Again it must be culled. Having a documented confirmed case( in cattle) you are eligible for the vaccine. The up side you can vaccinate all of your new borns. The must be vaccinated within 30 days of birth and the vaccine is monitored and controlled very closely by the state through your vet. Once vaccinated animals are tattooed and paperwork is done on that animal. The down side is you can never test your herd for TB, as Johnes is a form of tuberculosis that affects the intestinal tract. Animals that are vaccinated will always test positive.





Unfortunately I know a few Dairies that have had Johnes outbreaks. BTW cats are the biggest carrier of Johnes.



You absolutely do not want this in your deer herd, period.