title: Detection of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis-specific DNA by PCR in intestinal biopsies of dogs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) is the cause of paratuberculosis. MAP infections have not been reliably detected in dogs, but a reemerging debate about the link between MAP and Crohn's disease has renewed interest about the occurrence of MAP in pets.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to examine canine intestinal biopsies for the presence of MAP-specific DNA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two dogs with chronic vomiting, diarrhea, or both; and 14 dogs with no gastrointestinal disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  All dogs with signs of gastrointestinal disease had a standard work-up for chronic gastrointestinal disease. Endoscopically obtained intestinal biopsies were submitted for histopathologic and molecular investigations. Biopsies were screened for MAP-specific DNA by 3 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods (nested, seminested, and triplex real-time PCR). Samples from control dogs were obtained during necropsy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histopathology of the biopsies was indicative of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in 17 and neoplasia in 6 dogs. Six dogs showing nonspecific changes responded to diet and were classified as having food-responsive enteropathy. In 13 dogs a final diagnosis was not established. MAP-specific DNA was detected and confirmed by sequencing in 8 dogs (19%). These dogs were diagnosed with food-responsive enteropathy (n=3), IBD (n=2), and open diagnosis (n=3). MAP-specific DNA was not detected in dogs with no gastrointestinal disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MAP-specific DNA was detected in approximately one fifth of dogs with chronic gastrointestinal disease and might play a role as a pathogenic agent. Apart from animal welfare, the zoonotic aspect warrants further studies addressing the viability of MAP organism in canine intestinal biopsies by culture.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Small Animals, Internal Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Glanemann
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schönenbrücher
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bridger
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdulmawjood
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Neiger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bülte
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016927:Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010283:Paratuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial