CONTENTS What is Johne's Disease? National Johne's Disease Control Program (NJDCP) Ovine Johne's Disease in Australia Bovine Johne's Disease in Australia Market Assurance Programs (MAPs) AHA National Database Reports and Newsletters Links Coordinators in Your State or Territory Johne's Disease

Johne's disease is a serious wasting disease that affects a wide range of animals. In Australia it has been found in cattle, sheep, goats, deer, alpaca and llama. It is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium paratuberculosis) that live mainly in animal intestines but can also survive in the outside environment for several months.

While cross-infection between species can occur, different strains of the bacteria cause infection in different animals. The strain of bacteria mainly affecting cattle, goats, camelids and deer in Australia is known as bovine Johne's disease (BJD). The sheep strain of the bacteria is called ovine Johne's disease (OJD). It has also infected goats in Australia.

Johne's disease affects animals by causing a thickening of the intestinal wall which blocks the normal absorption of food. The animal is hungry and eats but cannot absorb any nutrients. This results in wasting and finally death. Diarrhoea and bottle jaw are also common signs in cattle.

Australia is in the fortunate position of having relatively little Johne's disease compared to most developed agricultural countries. Large areas of the continent are Johne's disease-free and a high proportion of its livestock populations have no known infection. Australia is at the forefront of Johne's disease control internationally; a position widely acknowledged at the regular International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis.

Australians are actively involved in international organisations dealing with Johne's disease. There are a number of useful information resources on both OJD and BJD in Australia and across the world. Animal Health Australia has compiled lists of useful links.

There has been a National Johne's Disease Control Program (NJDCP) in Australia since 1996. Initially the program focussed on the development of:

• A set of Standard Definition and Rules to facilitate trade between jurisdictions and,

• The Australian Johne's Disease Market Assurance Program, an audited quality assurance program  incorporating animal health risk assessment, testing, and movement controls, that provides a source of low risk animals for the various industry sectors.

There has been a specific OJD control and management plan in place since 1998.To find out how OJD is currently managed in Australia please see the OJD Management plan. You can also view a History of OJD Management in Australia (61 KB) .

A National BJD Strategic Plan was endorsed by the affected industries in July 2003.

To find out how BJD is managed in Australia see Bovine Johne's Disease in Australia.

Page Updated: 6 February 2008