an enteritis of a chronic wasting type affecting ungulates and other ruminants; caused by Mycobacterium avium, subsp. paratuberculosis; characterized by diarrhea, muscle wasting, and generalized weakness.Mycobacterium paratuberculosis. SYN: Bacillus paratuberculosis, Bacterium paratuberculosis, Darmtuberculose, Mycobacterium enteritidis, Mycobacterium johnei. [Heinrich Albert Johne (1839-1910), German pathologist]