Paratuberculosis in a free living red deer (Cervus elaphus hippelaphus) from Vorarlberg

Paratuberculosis in an eight year old free living red deer stag from the region Vorarlberg is reported. For a period of several weeks in January the emaciated stag was detected with symptoms of diarrhea near a feeding station. The animal was shot and a post mortem examination performed. Pathomorphological lesions, acid-fast organisms detected in faeces and smears from the intestinal mucosa, the growth of Ziehl-Neelsen-positive bacteria on media containing mycobactin, and serological positive results revealed an infection with Mycobacterium avium supsp. paratuberculosis.