How do sheep become infected?
OJD bacteria pass out in the faeces of affected sheep. Other sheep become infected through consuming food, water or other material that has been contaminated by the faeces of infected animals. The bacteria can survive in the environment for about 12 months in shady moist areas. Many sheep infected with Johne’s disease may carry the disease in their intestines and spread the bacteria in their faeces without ever showing any obvious clinical disease in their commercial lifetime.
