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Policies for more information. Sometimes Johne's is obvious.
Sometimes it isn't What is Johne's disease? Johne's (pronounced
"yo-knees") is a contagious bacterial infection primarily of the
lower small intestine. Also known as paratuberculosis, Johne's
most often infects dairy and beef cattle, sheep and goats. The
disease has also been reported in captive and wild free-roaming
ruminants, such as whitetail deer. How do animals become
infected? Johne's spreads primarily through ingestion of feed or
water contaminated by manure from infected animals. Infected
dams, which may or may not be exhibiting signs, can pass the
disease to calves while nursing through their colostrum and
milk. Because of its mode of spreading, Johne's must be
considered a herd problem, as well as an individual animal
problem. What are the clinical signs? Obvious clinical signs of
Johne's include weight loss, diarrhea a