Technical Note (TN 743): Johne’s Disease In Cattle

Johne’s disease (also known as paratuberculosis) is an infectious wasting condition of cattle and other ruminants.  It results in progressive damage to the intestines of affected animals and in cattle results in profuse and persistent diarrhoea.

While cattle remain susceptible to infection throughout their life, they are at their most vulnerable in the first few months of life.  The advanced clinical signs of the disease (diarrhoea and weight loss) are rarely seen in cattle under two years of age.  Most commonly these clinical signs are seen in cattle aged three to five years.