Bovine Johne’s disease (BJD)
Contents
Bovine Johne’s disease (BJD) surveillance
Bovine Johne's disease (BJD) laboratory submission form
Maintaining Western Australia's Free Zone status for bovine Johne's disease (BJD) claim
form (for owner and veterinarian rebate)
Supporting your success
Bovine Johne’s disease (BJD) surveillance
What is BJD?
Bovine Johne's disease (BJD) is a chronic wasting disease of cattle, caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp.
paratuberculosis (bovine strain). This strain can also affect goats, deer and alpaca. Western Australia is
currently a BJD Free Zone. BJD is endemic in Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales and South Australia. In
those states there is a significantly higher prevalence of BJD in the dairy sector than in the beef sector.
BJD prevention and surveillance in Western Australia
WA's status as a BJD Free Zone means cattle producers can trade freely within WA and interstate. BJD is
estimated to cost the industry in the Victoria about $7.5 million per year. Of this, $5.8 million is attributed to
direct productivity losses, while the costs of disruption to interstate and international sales of cattle make up
the remaining $1.7 million.
WA imposes conditions on imported cattle to manage the risk of introduction of BJD and conducts
surveillance co-funded by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA), the WA
cattle industry (via the Industry Funding Scheme (Cattle)) and the Cattle Council of Australia. The current
policy is to eradicate BJD if it is found in WA.
Clinical signs of BJD
The clinical signs of BJD are diarrhoea and wasting in older cattle despite adequate nutrition and parasite
control.
Sample collection
Collect sufficient specimens to cover the range of diseases that could account for the syndrome being
investigated, and not simply to exclude BJD. The samples required are:
 10mL each of clotted and heparinised blood
 at least 2g of faeces from affected animals and cohorts (up to 10 animals).
Post mortem
Fixed samples:
 entire ileocaecal valve
 ileocaecal and ileal lymph nodes
 2 x 10cm pieces of ileum (proximal and terminal sites)
 1 x 10cm piece of proximal colon
 1 x 10cm piece of caecum
 plus a full range of diagnostic samples.
Fresh samples separately in sterile containers:
 1 x 10cm piece of ileum
 1 x 10cm piece of proximal colon
 1 x 10cm piece of caecum
 ileocaecal lymph node
 50g of faeces.
Claiming incentives for producers and private veterinarians
Under the WA BJD Surveillance Scheme, $300 per disease investigation and $225 per post mortem is
available to producers. This is funded by the Cattle Council of Australia and is paid directly to the producer on
completion of the claim form provided in this folder.
Private veterinarians can submit a claim for a travel rebate which is paid by the SDI scheme at the same rate
as for that scheme.
Eligible animals are three years old or over with signs of chronic scouring and weight loss.
DAFWA pays travel at Australian Taxation Office posted rates as indicated below. Please note that 200km is
the maximum total travel distance that can be claimed. When a private veterinarian conducts an on-farm
investigation as part of these programs and travels to other farms, either immediately before or after, for
non-program visits, DAFWA expects the travel cost claimed under these programs should be a fair division of
the overall cost of the travel, and not a claim for the total travel.
Rates per business kilometre (ATO posted rates – excluding GST)
Engine capacity
Engine capacity
Cents per kilometre
Ordinary car
Rotary engine car
2012-2013 income year
1600cc (1.6 litre) or less
800cc (0.8 litre) or less
63 cents
1601cc–2600cc
801cc–1300cc
74 cents
(1.601 litre–2.6 litre)
(0.801 litre–1.3 litre)
2601cc (2.601 litre) and over
1301cc (1.301 litre) and over
75 cents
NB. GST IS payable on reimbursement of motor vehicle travel expenses
Important disclaimer
The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Agriculture and Food and the State of Western Australia
accept no liability whatsoever by reason of negligence or otherwise arising from the use or release of this
information or any part of it.
Copyright © Western Australian Agriculture Authority, 2013
Bovine Johne's disease (BJD) laboratory submission form
Owner’s name:
Date:
AHL submission form number:
Clinical signs
Cattle must be three years or older and exhibiting chronic scouring and weight loss.
☐
☐
chronic scouring not responsive to treatment (sample up to three affected animals)
weight loss (sample 3–10 affected or cohort animals).
Live animal specimen collection
☐
☐
☐
clotted blood 10mL
heparinised blood 10mL
faeces (50g).
Post-mortem specimen collection
Fresh samples:
☐
clotted blood
☐
heparinised blood
☐
liver (100g)
☐
faeces (50g)
☐
Sl content 10mL
☐
Ll content 10mL
☐
spleen (100g)
Pool the following samples:
☐ ileocaecal valve
☐ ileum
☐ colon
Pool the following samples:
☐ mesenteric lymph node
☐ ileocaecal lymph node
☐ ileal lymph node.
Fixed samples (tissues to be pooled in 500mL of 10% formalin):
☐
☐
☐
ileocaecal valve, ileum and colon
ileal, mesenteric and ileocaecal lymph nodes
liver, kidney, rumen, abomasum, heart, skeletal muscle and lung.
Submit the completed form to:
Animal Health Laboratories
Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia
3 Baron-Hay Court, South Perth, Western Australia 6151
Postal address: Locked Bag 4, Bentley Delivery Centre, WA 6983
Telephone: +61 (0)8 9368 3351 Fax: +61 (0)8 9474 1881 Email: vicki.hales@agric.wa.gov.au
ABN 18 951 343 745
Maintaining Western Australia's Free Zone status for Bovine Johne's disease
(BJD) claim form
Cattle owner rebate ($300 per veterinary investigation + $225 for post-mortem examination/s plus
GST).
Owner's name (please print):
As the owner/s representative of the cattle with diarrhoea and wasting from which samples were collected for
testing, I hereby claim a rebate.
Creditor’s name:
Address:
PIC:
ABN:
(48% of rebate must be withheld unless the ABN is provided)
Total amount claimed (circle which ever applies): $330 (GST included)
$247.50 (GST included)
Signed:
Date:
Declaration by veterinarian and travel claim
I
, being a veterinary surgeon registered in Western Australia, certify that I
investigated and collected samples from cattle over three years of age suffering from chronic diarrhoea and
wasting on
(date) on the property indicated above for testing to identify the cause of weight loss
and diarrhoea. I am aware that this claim cannot be accepted unless I have submitted the appropriate
samples and information as required.
Creditor’s name:
Address:
ABN:
(48% of rebate must be withheld unless ABN provided)
Travel:
kilometres at
c/km=
x 1.1 = $
(included GST)
(NB: 200km is the maximum total travel distance that can be claimed)
(See over for motor vehicle travel claim rates)
Signed:
Date:
Rates per business kilometer (ATO posted rates – excluding GST)
Engine capacity
Engine capacity
Cents per kilometre
Ordinary car
Rotary engine car
2012-2013 income year
1600cc (1.6 litre) or less
800cc (0.8 litre) or less
63 cents
1601cc–2600cc
801cc–1300cc
74 cents
(1.601 litre–2.6 litre)
(0.801 litre–1.3 litre)
2601cc (2.601 litre) and over
1301cc (1.301 litre) and over
NB. GST IS payable on reimbursement of motor vehicle travel expenses
75 cents
Submit the completed form to:
Animal Health Laboratories
Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia
3 Baron-Hay Court, South Perth, Western Australia 6151
Postal address: Locked Bag 4, Bentley Delivery Centre, WA 6983
Telephone: +61 (0)8 9368 3351 Fax: +61 (0)8 9474 1881 Email: vicki.hales@agric.wa.gov.au
ABN 18 951 343 745