Question : JOHNE S DISEASE

(a) whether a few cases of Johne`s disease /Para T.B. have been reported in various part of the country;

(b) if so, the details of such disease alongwith its effects on animals State-wise;

(c) whether the Government has developed any indigenous vaccine the said disease;

(d) if so, the details thereof along with its effectiveness and cost in comparison with foreign vaccines;

(e) whether the Government has formulated any scheme to provide treatment facility in line of European countries including USA and Australia; and

(f) if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)

(a) to (b) Yes, Madam. Johne`s disease (JD)/paratuberculosis, a wasting disease in animals, caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis is reported in the country. The disease is prevalent in herds/flocks of cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats in Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

(c) & (d) No Madam. There is no vaccine available in the country for field use. However, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed and indigenous vaccine against Johne`s disease/Para T.B. which is at an experimental stage. The vaccine is not known to eliminate or prevent infection of this disease because it does not offer an absolute resistance to the causative agent. It also interferes with serological testing for paratuberculosis vis a vis tuberculosis.

(e) & (f) There is no scheme to provide treatment against this disease. However, in organized farms the animals are tested and, if found positive, are segregated. In countries like USA, Netherlands and few other European countries, control measures for Johne`s desease/Para T.B. include testing and stamping out. These measures cannot be applied in Indian conditions due to socio-religious reasons.