Johne's Disease (MAP) RT-PCR - Faeces
Johne's disease RT-PCR is a dung test that looks for the DNA of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), the germ behind Johne's disease in cows and buffaloes. Animals pass the germ off and on, so one negative result does not rule infection out.
- Sample
- Faeces
- Quantity
- As advised
- Report
- Confirmed when you book
- Collection
- Free in Bhopal
What this test checks
- DNA of MAP, the germ that causes Johne's disease, in a fresh dung sample
- Whether the animal is passing the germ in its dung at the time of sampling
- Passing of the germ in adult animals with diarrhoea that keeps coming back and weight loss
- Passing of the germ in animals that look healthy, when your vet is checking a herd
Benefits of this test
- Looks for the germ itself in dung, which is how Johne's disease spreads to calves.
- Can help confirm the cause of long-lasting diarrhoea and weight loss in adult cows and buffaloes.
- Can help your vet find animals that are passing the germ.
- Uses a simple dung sample, so no blood is needed.
- Can be combined with an antibody test to give your vet a fuller picture.
When your vet may advise it
- An adult cow or buffalo with diarrhoea that keeps coming back.
- Weight loss and falling milk even though the animal keeps eating.
- A soft swelling under the jaw together with weight loss.
- A positive or unclear Johne's antibody test that your vet wants to check.
- Before buying animals, or when your vet is checking a herd for Johne's disease.
About this test
Johne's disease, also called paratuberculosis, is a long-lasting gut infection of cows and buffaloes. It is caused by a germ called Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis, or MAP for short. Calves usually pick up the germ when they are very young, from dung on the udder, from milk or from dirty surroundings. Signs often appear only years later, in adult animals. They include diarrhoea that keeps coming back, weight loss even though the animal still eats, and falling milk. Some animals later develop a soft swelling under the jaw.
PCR (polymerase chain reaction) finds a germ's genetic material, called DNA, by copying it many times until it can be detected. This test looks for MAP DNA in a fresh dung sample. It shows whether the animal is passing the germ in its dung, which is how the disease spreads to young calves. Animals in the late stage often pass large amounts of the germ. Animals in the early, silent stage, when they still look healthy, may pass very little, or none at times.
Because animals pass the germ off and on, one negative result does not rule infection out. Your vet may repeat the test later, test other animals in the herd or add a blood antibody test, which looks for the animal's immune response to the germ. A registered veterinarian reads the result together with the animal's age, signs and herd history. Johne's disease is usually handled at herd level, so a positive result is a good reason to talk with your vet about the whole herd, not just one animal.
How to prepare
Collect fresh dung, ideally taken from the rectum (back passage) by your vet, or pick it up fresh without soil into a clean, sealed container while wearing gloves, and wash your hands afterwards. The lab confirms the method, sample needs and reporting time when you book.
Reading the result
A registered veterinarian reads the result together with the animal's age, signs and herd history. A positive result means MAP DNA was found in the dung and usually means the animal is passing the germ. A negative result does not rule infection out, because animals pass the germ off and on, especially early in the disease, so your vet may repeat the test or add an antibody test.
Questions about Johne's Disease (MAP) RT-PCR - Faeces
What is Johne's disease in cows and buffaloes?
Why can a Johne's PCR be negative in an infected cow?
Is the Johne's dung PCR better than a blood test?
How do I collect a dung sample for the Johne's test?
Before you book this test
Why this notice: so you know, before you book, how a test is done, what its limits are and who is responsible.
- Where it is tested. Some tests are done wholly or partly by an independent partner laboratory. The lab tells you before booking if this test is sent out, and the report names the laboratory that did it.
- What a result can and cannot tell you. No test is right every time. A normal result does not rule out every disease, and an abnormal result does not prove one. A registered veterinarian should read the report with the animal’s signs and history before any treatment is started, changed or stopped.
- The sample. A sample that is clotted, too small, wrongly labelled, leaking or too old may be rejected or reported with a note, and the lab may ask for a fresh one.
- Reporting time. Confirmed when you book. Times are estimates, not guarantees, and the lab confirms the time when you book.
- Emergencies. A booking or a pending report must not delay urgent care. If an animal has collapsed, struggles to breathe, has fits or bleeds heavily, call a veterinarian at once.
Please read our Terms of Service, Medical Disclaimer, Privacy Policy and Refund and Cancellation Policy. Pashupatinath Vet Lab is operated by Duaji Healthcare and Tech Private Limited. This page is general information and does not replace a veterinarian’s advice.
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Johne's Disease (MAP) RT-PCR - Faeces: Bhopal and the big cities of Madhya Pradesh
Free sample collection anywhere in Bhopal. From the other cities, send the sample by courier, bus parcel or through your local veterinarian, and the report comes to you online.
Free collection in these Bhopal areas
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18 Oct 2026