Paratuberculosis in chronic gastrointestinal disease. The causative agent of paratuberculosis is the bacterium Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis. In a dairy herd, animals usually become infected immediately after birth, and clinical signs may not appear for 2 or more years. The disease is transmitted mainly by the fecal-oral route, and 20 % to 40 % of embryos may become infected with the bacterium in utero. The most obvious clinical signs in dairy cows are diarrhea and excessive weight loss, despite normal appetite; edema of ventral body parts may also occur. The disease causes significant economic losses through reduced milk production, poorer fertility, the occurrence of secondary diseases (e.g., mastitis), and premature culling of animals. Paratuberculosis is prevalent worldwide, and currently there are no effective treatments, so it is classified as an incurable disease. Early diagnosis, control, and prevention of the spread of the disease are critical. Some countries around the world have implemented programs to control paratuberculosis with the goal of preventing the spread of the disease or eradicating it completely. The implementation of biosecurity measures and the purchase of animals from disease-free herds are of utmost importance. Currently, there is no disease control program in Slovenia. Accurate data on the prevalence of the disease are not available, as many animals are in a subclinical phase without signs of disease. Knowledge about paratuberculosis is very low among Slovenian farmers.
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