Background and Aim: Johne's disease is chronic granulomatous enteritis which affects ruminants. There are many diagnostic approaches for the detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) of which molecular detection methods using various elements are less time consuming and more accurate. The present study was conducted using ISMap02 element for nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) based detection of MAP in fecal samples. The aim was to test the sensitivity and specificity of the ISMap02 element and also to use this element for the detection of MAP in fecal samples of cattle and buffaloes.

Materials and Methods: A total of 211 fecal samples of cattle and buffaloes from different herds around Ludhiana aged between 2 and 13 years were collected, and DNA extraction was done from these samples. The nPCR was carried out for the detection of MAP in fecal samples.

Results: The ISMap02 element was specific for the detection of MAP only and showed a sensitivity of detection of 7.6 fg/μL of the standard genomic DNA. Among the 211 fecal samples of cattle and buffaloes tested for the ISMap02 element, 18 samples (8.5%) were positive for MAP.

Conclusion: The ISMap02 element is specific and sensitive for the detection of MAP in various samples, and when used in nPCR format, it can increase the sensitivity of detection.

Keywords: ISMap02, Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, nested polymerase chain reaction, paratuberculosis.

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