Ovine Johne's Disease (OJD) is the description given to sheep suffering from a mycobacterium paratuberculosis (prognosis negative) infection.   The symptoms are a general "wasting" of infected animals over a period of years. OJD is often mistaken for a range of other problems (abscess, worms, fluke, and dietary deficiency).  OJD is known to be spread by ingestion of pasture contaminated with infected faecal matter, and is known to be spread by the transport of infected faecal matter in waterways. Young animals are more susceptible, and it appears that they can be infected by mother's milk. The bacterium has been reported to persist for longer than one year on the pasture. The question as to whether wildlife can carry OJD remains unanswered, but it is known that Bovine Johne's Disease, although a strain distinct from OJD, can be carried by sheep.  With present technology it is not possible to reliably diagnose OJD in individual live sheep.  Recent advances have reduced the unit cost and accuracy of testing with a "pooled faecal culture" (PFC) test.  If OJD is present the entire flock is assumed to be infected.

OJD in NSW AUSTRALIA   Losses up to 6% have been reported in Australia.  In NZ and other countries where the disease is endemic anecdotal evidence is that losses stabilize in the range 1% to 3% p/a.  OJD was first detected in Australia circa 1980 in the central tablelands of NSW, and as of 1 August 1999, 49% of the 422 flocks confirmed as infected in NSW are in the central tablelands.   A further 930 flocks are classified as "suspect". (LAND; page 9, 16 September 1999).

The department of Agriculture has begun abattoir surveillance for OJD.  Peter Austin (LAND, June 15) reported that of 300 OJD positive returns up to May, more than 60 were from the so called "control" zones, where OJD is supposedly absent.  Logic suggests that the OJD control plan is not functional.  Logic further suggests that the only way to control this disease is for the federal government to recognize that this disease is of national importance, and offer fair compensation to affected farmers in the interim.

In Ireland Alan Kennedy has uncovered and detailed research which would tend to make any normal hypochondriac like myself think seriously about giving up pasteurized milk products for life.  His summary is particularly succinct.

Karen Meyer in the USA has collected and published very persuasive evidence on her site "crohns.org".  The Animal Health Councils in Australia & the USA continue to refuse to act because, they state:

"there is no evidence of a causative relationship".

Readers are advised to move themselves and their loved ones to a "ruminant product" free diet.  Paratuberculosis is a particularly hardy microbe.  The evidence seems to indicate that pasteurizing does not kill it, but that UHT milk and matured cheese are "safe".  UHT appears to be safe because the heat kills the para bacterium.  Matured cheese seems to be safe because it's acidity kills the para bacterium over time.  And perhaps well seared meat?  And if your drinking water is sourced from a grazed reservoir, perhaps boiled water?

Created 1997, Previous upgrade 17 September 1999 14 November 1999, minor additions 1 January 2000,  11 February,  latest June 2000