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Adjuvant Activity of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis in Enhancing the Immunogenicity of Autoantigens During Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
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High prevalence of viable Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in Crohn's disease

Juan L Mendoza1, Amparo San-Pedro, Esther Culebras

  • 1Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital Clinico San Carlos, Martin Lagos s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain. jmendozah@meditex.es

World Journal of Gastroenterology
|September 22, 2010
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Viable Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) was found in blood cultures of all Crohn's disease patients, but not in healthy controls. MAP DNA was detected in all inflammatory bowel disease patients.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), presents diagnostic challenges.
  • The potential role of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) in IBD pathogenesis remains a subject of investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and viability of MAP in patients diagnosed with IBD.
  • To compare MAP detection rates between CD, UC, and non-IBD control groups.

Main Methods:

  • MAP detection utilized polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for IS900 fragment and blood cultures.
  • Samples included 30 CD patients (15 with NOD2/CARD15 mutations), 29 UC patients, and 10 non-IBD controls.
  • Viability assessed through prolonged blood cultures and confirmed with dot blot and Ziehl-Neelsen staining.

Main Results:

  • MAP DNA was detected in blood samples and initial cultures of all participant groups (CD, UC, non-IBD).
  • Acid-fast staining was negative for all samples.
  • Viable MAP spheroplasts were exclusively isolated from 18-month blood cultures of all CD patients and one UC patient, but none from controls.

Conclusions:

  • MAP DNA is frequently detected in the blood of individuals with and without IBD.
  • Viable MAP, in a spheroplast form, was specifically identified in Crohn's disease patients, suggesting a potential association.
  • No correlation was observed between MAP detection and immunosuppressive drug use or CD-associated genetic mutations.

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