Legal framework: Paratuberculosis has been included in the Swedish Epizootic Act (SFS 1999:657) since 1952. According to this legislation, any suspicion that an animal (regardless of species) is infected by M. paratuberculosis is notifiable for animal owners, veterinarians or other professionals with animal contact. Moreover, the Swedish Board of Agriculture must investigate all suspect cases and take all necessary means to eradicate and prevent the spread of the infection, if confirmed.

Investigations: Since the detection of paratuberculosis in an imported beef cow in 1993, a number of surveys have been conducted, and shown a very low prevalence of the infection in Sweden. In the 1990s, directed surveys by faecal culture and serology on all imported cattle and all herds with cattle of the limousin breed were carried out, as well as a post-mortem culture investigation of a random sample from abattoirs. Since 2000, three faecal culture surveys on a stratified random sample of the dairy cattle population have been conducted, and since 2004, culture samples are taken of all adult cattle submitted for necropsy. Another directed survey conducted in 2006-2007 included cattle herds that had imported since 1995. In sheep, annual surveys have been conducted since 1993, until 2003 based on serology and since 2004 based on faecal culture.

Moreover, culture samples are always taken if paratuberculosis is suspected in any of the numerous post-mortem investigations conducted in wildlife.

Results: A total of 53 infected herds have been identified since 1993, the two most recent in 1998 and 2005. All cases have been linked to imported animals and none have been in dairy herds. An effort to estimate the probability of disease freedom based on the major surveillance components is underway.

Voluntary measures: A voluntary control programme including the majority of all pedigree beef herds has been in place since 1998. This programme is based on regular faecal sampling and trade is restricted to herds with the same status in the programme. Moreover, additional samples for paratuberculosis on imported animals and in the exporting herd are requested by Swedish Farmers´ Disease Control Program, a voluntary import control organisation.

Research: Studies on diagnostic methods, as well as epidemiological studies help form the basis of the Swedish control policy. In addition to international research, aspects relating to the Swedish situation must be included. The aspect of test specificity is especially important, as a positive test always leads to severe consequences for the herd. Other aspects of disease epidemiology and test sensitivity are, however, important for tracing of the infection from positive herds and optimising eradication measures.

Import control: Although mandatory sampling of imported animals has not prevented the introduction of paratuberculosis to Sweden in the past, it has undoubtedly helped keep the prevalence at such a low level. However, trade aspects may lead to the cessation of this import control. It is of vital importance that some kind of import control remains in place unless exporting herds can be certified as having the same status as regards paratuberculosis as Swedish herds. Otherwise, the money and efforts spent on eradication measures so far will soon be wasted.