VetAlert™ Johne’s Disease Real-Time PCR (100 Reactions)

The VetAlert™ Johne’s Real-Time PCR is a USDA-licensed kit intended as an aid in the in vitro qualitative detection of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis DNA by real-time PCR. The test can be used to detect DNA extracted directly from bovine fecal samples or from culture media used to amplify the agent in bovine fecal samples. The test is intended as an aid in the diagnosis of Johne’s disease in cattle.

• Johne’s Enclosures/Protocols
• Johne’s MSDS
• MAP Extraction System
• MAP Extraction System MSDS
• Pooling Fecal Samples
• Certified Testing Labs

Summary and Explanation
Johne’s disease is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium paratuberculosis. Johne’s is a chronic debilitating disease that is a great source of economic loss for the cattle and dairy industry.
The current reference method for diagnosis is culturing of fecal samples. Culturing is time-consuming, taking up to three months for a negative result. Recent advances in real-time PCR chemistry have led to improvements in assay sensitivity that allow for both adequate sensitivity and considerably greater speed in the diagnosis of Johne’s disease.

Principles of the Procedure
The test is based on real-time PCR that, in addition to specific forward and reverse oligonucleotide primers, utilizes fluorogenic probe hydrolysis chemistry to generate a fluorescent signal when specific M. paratuberculosis DNA is present in samples. The primers and probe target the hspX gene, which contains M. paratuberculosis-specific DNA sequences that allow for molecular discrimination of M. paratuberculosis from other closely related Mycobacterium species.