Abstract
This study is aimed to examine the extent and nature of the Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) shedding among young camels. Attempt was also sought to fully genotype the camel MAP isolate. 450 faecal and serum samples were collected from young camel of age 1-5 years old. The PCR, ELISA, and faecal culture (Herrold's medium tubes with Mycobactin J) were used to detect MAP. The number of the ELISA positive samples was only 39 (8.7%) out of 450 while the PCR results were 188 (41.8%), but the samples that were positive to both tests were only 29 (6.44%). Unfortunately, the genotyping of the faecal culture isolates were shown that majority of them are environmental mycobacteria. In general, the current results and the previous observations indicated that young camels shed MAP continuously with low tendency to develop infection. High level of positive PCR results probably reflects the capability of the young camels to recirculate MAP in their environment rather than succumb to its infection. However, although camels recirculate MAP in their environment, it could propose that wildlife animals could be the prime source of MAP contamination to the camel environment. Hence, MAP shedding in young camels is not necessary means that the animals are infected or they will develop infection.