Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the causative agent of paratuberculosis in domestic and wild ruminants. In sheep and goats it causes a chronic granulomatous enteritis with progressive emaciation and death, diarrhea rarely being observed. In this aspect, the disease is considered a worldwide threat to livestock, as it may remain subclinical for years, with indirect losses in production and agent dissemination. In addition, there are reports of a possible relationship with the agent of Crohn's disease, so it is also of relevance to public health. Brazil does not have any data quantifying the actual production losses in herds affected by the disease, and few details of the involvement of goats and sheep in the country have been reported. Thus, this paper aims to review the occurrence of paratuberculosis in flocks of domestic small ruminants.
Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis; sheep; goats