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The Mycobacterial Diseases of Animals (MDA) Multistate Initiative - a cooperative effort addressing animal diseases
Johne’s Disease Integrated Program (JDIP) efforts are well known and documented. Primary funding was through USDA grants that allowed leveraging of additional public and private resources to expand the effort. The grants have come to an end so a plan for the future was needed.
JDIP addressed many knowledge gaps, but much work remains, so a range of options for the consortium were considered. Primary objectives were to maintain the networking, collaboration and basic infrastructure developed through JDIP, allowing participants to identify, obtain and share resources needed to address Johne’s and other mycobacterial diseases. To this end, a proposal was, developed and later, approved by USDA’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to begin operation as Multistate Initiative - NE1201, "Mycobacterial Diseases of Animals (MDA)".
The multi-state initiative (MI) is focused on two mycobacterial disease complexes - paratuberculosis (Johne’s disease; JD) and the tuberculosis complex of diseases (TBc; i.e bovine tuberculosis). The initiative includes five objectives:
Objective 1: Increase understanding of the epidemiology and transmission of MDA, including predictive modeling;
Objective 2: Develop and implement new generations of diagnostic tests for JD and TBc;
Objective 3: Improving our understanding of the biology and pathogenesis of MDA, as well as the host response to infection;
Objective 4: Develop programs to evaluate and develop new generations of vaccines for JD and TBc; and,
Extension/Outreach: Develop and deliver JD and TBc education and outreach material in electronic and print form for use by producers and other stakeholders. Use trade media, producer organizations and other outlets to aid in dissemination of information.
Projects within each objective, with cross-cutting contributions, are designed to address major animal, human, and societal issues surrounding detection and control of mycobacterial infection, including how these organisms move and spread within cattle, small ruminant and wildlife populations.
Keywords: Mycobacterial Disease, Johne's, Tuberculosis