In-depth survey of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) genotypes in Germany

MAP is the causative agent of aratuberculosis. This chronic enteritis affects primarily domestic and wild ruminants. The agent is wide-spread in cattle herds in Europe. The current study aimed at understanding the diversity of MAP strains in Germany and to unveil co-infections and transmission routes. Strains typed originated from different regions, hosts, herds, animals, and tissues. A total of 330 MAP isolates were sourced from 300 cattle in 128 herds. Additional isolates were from 8 further species (sheep, goat, red deer, fallow deer, roe deer, moufl on, donkey, and man). Strains originated from eleven Federal States in Germany. Fifty isolates from two to six tissues per individual animal (n=15, 6 herds) were analysed for co-infections at the individual animal level. Appreciating the relatively low genetic heterogeneity of MAP, three DNA-based genotyping methods were applied in combination: IS900-RFLP (BstEII, PstI)-, MIRu-vNTR (8 markers)-, and SSR (3 loci) - analysis. [...]