Intelligent screening of Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP) in dairy cattle

Paratuberculosis or Johne's disease is a disease of cattle with a high financial and animal welfare cost. Quarterly testing of individual cows is performed in most herds as the bacteria _Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis_ (MAP) may be a possible cause of Crohn's disease in humans. Unfortunately, however, the routine testing performed on milk samples is both costly and often inaccurate. In this study we will test the feasibility of Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) analysis in the headspace of bovine milk and faecal samples to detect the presence of viable MAP and miniaturize the technology into a portable device.