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Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection in a patient with HIV, Germany

Elvira Richter1, Johannes Wessling, Norbert Lügering

  • 1Forschungszentrum Borstel, National Reference Center for Mycobacteria, Borstel, Germany. erichter@fz-borstel.de

Emerging Infectious Diseases
|July 4, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) may cause Crohn disease in humans. This study confirms the first human MAP infection in an HIV patient, with isolates from multiple specimens.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is a known pathogen causing Johne disease in ruminants.
  • MAP has been investigated as a potential etiological agent for Crohn disease in humans.
  • Crohn disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with complex pathogenesis.

Observation:

  • A case of human infection with MAP was identified in a patient with advanced HIV.
  • MAP infection was confirmed through isolation from various biological specimens.
  • This represents the first documented instance of human MAP infection in an immunocompromised individual.

Findings:

  • The study successfully isolated MAP from multiple specimen types in the patient.
  • This provides direct evidence of MAP infection in a human host.
  • The findings link MAP to a human infection, particularly in the context of HIV.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the potential zoonotic transmission of MAP and its role in human disease.
  • Further research is warranted to explore the MAP-Crohn disease link in immunocompromised populations.
  • Understanding MAP pathogenesis in humans could lead to novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for inflammatory bowel diseases.

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