New Delhi, March 14 (IANS) India is developing an indigenous vaccine against Johne's disease that is prevalent in cattle in many parts of northern India, the government has told parliament.

The indigenous vaccine against Johne's disease/paratuberculosis, developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), 'is at an experimental stage,' Minister of State for Agriculture K.V. Thomas said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

He, however, said 'the vaccine is not known to eliminate or prevent infection of this disease because it does not offer an absolute resistance to the causative agent.'

Johne's disease/paratuberculosis is a wasting disease in animals.

In India, the disease is prevalent in cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats in Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

The minister said there was no vaccine available in the country for field use now.

Though there is no scheme to provide treatment against this disease, animals in organised farms are tested and, if found posive, are segregated, the minister said.