Paratuberculosis or Johne's disease is a contagious, chronic infection affecting ruminants and is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP). The pathogen causes chronic inflammation of the small intestine with emaciation and diarrhea and always ends fatal. Paratuberculosis is an animal disease that must be reported in Germany. Due to the long incubation period of up to 10 years and the sub-clinical course of the infection, re-infections often occur within the animal population. In Austria, the degree of paratuberculosis is estimated to be between 6 and 7 % and 20 % in the Netherlands. In some US states, up to 70 % of dairy cows are infected. The MAP-PCR test developed at the university can specifically detect the pathogen and has a very high sensitivity whereby being insensitive to contamination. This robustness makes the test ideal for use as point-of-care diagnostics.
The Georg-August-Universität Göttingen was founded in 1737. As an internationally renowned research university it offers excellent facilities for teaching and research, worldwide networks, as well as a great research tradition - as well as a comprehensive range of more than 130 course subjects. Since 2003, the body legally responsible for the University has been a Public Law Foundation.
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