Ovine Johne's Disease

Johne's Disease is an incurable wasting disease of livestock caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium paratuberculosis. The disease can occur in cattle, goats, deer, alpaca and sheep. In Australia, the sheep strain does not appear to infect cattle or alpaca, and the cattle strain only rarely infects sheep.

Ovine Johne's Disease (OJD) was first reported in Australian sheep in 1980 in the central tablelands of New South Wales and has also been confirmed in Victorian and Tasmanian sheep flocks. OJD was first detected in South Australia on Kangaroo Island (KI). Tracing to in-contact flocks has identified several more infected flocks. Investigations are ongoing to define the exact extent of the disease on KI.

All types of sheep can be infected. The number of infected sheep in a flock varies between 1-15% and is typically around 4%.

The disease is solely an issue of sheep productivity and market access. There is no known human health risk.

OJD Program Review

In late 2001, the South Australian sheep industry initiated a review of the status of Ovine Johne's Disease (OJD) within the state.

Report: Review of the OJD Program in South Australia (.PDF) 164KB

National Approach to Managing OJD

The National Approach to the Management of Ovine Johne’s Disease comprises nationally accepted standards and practices upon which the States, Territories and Industry formulate disease management and control programs to suit their circumstances, and has been prepared by the Primary Industries Standing Committee (PISC) through the Animal Health Committee (AHC).The national approach is designed to assist the management and control of ovine Johne’s disease (OJD) in a nationally harmonious manner. State programs are designed to manage and control disease in known infected flocks. The national approach also describes the Assurance-Based Credit (ABC) Scheme for the facilitation of trade with regards to JD status.

National Approach to the Management of Ovine Johne's Disease (October 11, 2004)  (.PDF) 60KB

New National OJD Program 2007–2012 (external site)

New National OJD Business Management Plan 2007–2012 (external site)

National Sheep Health Statement (SHS)

National Sheep Health Statement (SHS) has all the details you need for the current version of the national Sheep Health Statement.

Vaccination

Vaccination (.PDF) 68KB explains vaccinating against OJD, details about Gudair vaccine, what you need to do if you want to vaccinate, the benefits of vaccination and OH&S issues.

Abattoir Surveillance

To apply to have sheep inspected for OJD through Pt Pirie, Murray Bridge or Lobethal abattoirs in order to be able to claim extra credit points, you need to download and print the Application form for OJD Assurance Based Credit Points by Abattoir Surveillance (.PDF) 31KB. The completed form should be sent to a PIRSA office.

Contact Us

PIRSA Animal Health contacts

Links to related sites 

New South Wales Department of Primary Industries   [External Site - opens in new window]

Victorian Department of Primary Industries   [External Site - opens in new window]

Queensland Department of Primary Industires  [External Site - opens in new window]

Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries  [External Site - opens in new window]

Western Australia Department of Primary Industries  [External Site - opens in new window]

Pfizer Animal Health  [External Site - opens in new window]

Animal Health Australia [External Site - opens in new window]