Mycobacterium avium subesp. paratuberculosis (MAP) é o agente etiológico da paratuberculose em ruminantes domésticos e silvestres. Em caprinos e ovinos causa uma enterite granulomatosa crônica com emagrecimento progressivo seguido de morte, raramente a diarreia é observada. Nesse aspecto, a doença é considerada uma ameaça mundial aos rebanhos, pois pode permanecer no estádio subclínico por anos, manifestando perdas indiretas na produção animal e na disseminação do agente. Além disso, existem relatos da possível relação de MAP com a doença de Crohn, determinando, assim, a sua relevância na saúde pública. O Brasil não dispõe de dados quantificando as reais perdas produtivas nos rebanhos acometidos pela doença, e poucas informações do comprometimento de caprinos e ovinos no país são relatadas. Assim, este artigo busca revisar a paratuberculose em pequenos ruminantes domésticos.

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.

The occurrence of antibodies to Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) was verified in dairy cattle from Espírito Santo state. A total of 1,450 serum samples were analyzed for antibodies anti-MAP, using ELISA. Dairy cattle, males and females, from four regions of Espírito Santo state were used. One hundred sixty-five (11.4%) samples were positive for anti-MAP, 33 (2.3%) were considered suspicious, and 1,252 (86.3%) were negative. In all regions, seropositive animals were found, indicating that the agent is spread by the State, posing a threat to the local dairy farming and neighboring states, as well as public health, since MAP can be involved with Crohn's disease in humans. This result presents the first serologic anti-MAP survey in dairy cattle of Espírito Santo State.