What is the Difference Between Tuberculosis and Paratuberculosis?

Tuberculosis (TB) and paratuberculosis are two infectious diseases caused by bacterial species belonging to the genus Mycobacterium. The key differences between the two diseases are as follows:

Causative agents: TB is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, while paratuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP).
Hosts: TB is a contagious respiratory infection in humans, while paratuberculosis is a contagious intestinal infection of ruminants, such as cattle and buffaloes.
Transmission: TB is acquired through aerosolization, affecting lung tissues, while paratuberculosis is acquired through the oral route and affects the intestine and lymphatic tissues.
Cellular level: Although infections with M. tuberculosis and M. paratuberculosis are very similar on the cellular level, their pathogenesis inside their respective hosts is completely different.

In summary, tuberculosis and paratuberculosis are two distinct infectious diseases caused by different Mycobacterium species, affecting different hosts and transmitted through different routes. While TB is a respiratory infection in humans, paratuberculosis is an intestinal infection in ruminants.

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What is the Difference Between Tuberculosis and Paratuberculosis?

Comparative Table: Tuberculosis vs Paratuberculosis

Here is a table comparing the differences between tuberculosis and paratuberculosis:

Feature	Tuberculosis	Paratuberculosis
Causative Agent	Mycobacterium tuberculosis	Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (M. paratuberculosis)
Host	Humans	Ruminants (e.g., cattle, sheep, goats)
Transmission	Aerosolization, inhalation of infectious droplets	Oral route, ingestion of contaminated water, feed, or environmental sources
Disease Type	Contagious respiratory infection	Contagious intestinal infection
Target Organ	Lungs, other tissues (brain, kidneys, bones)	Intestine, lymphatic system
Symptoms	Cough, fever, weight loss, fatigue, night sweats, chest pain	Diarrhea, weight loss, anorexia, reduced milk production, swollen lymph nodes
Diagnosis	Sputum smear microscopy, chest X-ray, PCR testing	PCR testing, ELISA for antibodies, fecal culture
Treatment	Antibiotics, isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, ethambutol	Antibiotic therapy, supportive care (e.g., fluid and electrolyte replacement), culling of infected animals
Prevention	BCG vaccine, isoniazid preventive therapy	Herd management, sanitation, testing and removal of infected animals, vaccination (in some countries)

Tuberculosis is a contagious respiratory infection in humans caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, while paratuberculosis is a contagious intestinal infection in ruminants caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis.

Guilherme Mazui

Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.