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Food safety concerns regarding paratuberculosis

Michael T Collins1

  • 1Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 2015 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1102, USA. mcollin5@wisc.edu

The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Food Animal Practice
|October 26, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) resists food processing, potentially linking it to Crohn's disease. Controlling Johne's disease in animals is crucial to reduce human exposure risks from contaminated foods.

Area of Science:

  • Food safety and microbiology
  • Veterinary epidemiology
  • Zoonotic disease research

Background:

  • Contamination of animal-derived foods with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) occurs frequently during both ante mortem and post mortem stages.
  • MAP exhibits innate resistance to heat and other physical processing methods, rendering standard food manufacturing practices insufficient for its elimination.
  • The zoonotic potential of MAP and its association with human diseases, particularly Crohn's disease, remains a subject of ongoing medical investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the challenges in eliminating Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) from foods of animal origin.
  • To discuss the potential link between MAP exposure and human health conditions like Crohn's disease.
  • To emphasize the importance of on-farm biosecurity measures for Johne's disease control in livestock.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) contamination in food products.
  • Analysis of MAP's resistance to common food processing techniques.
  • Examination of epidemiological data regarding MAP presence in humans and its correlation with Crohn's disease.

Main Results:

  • Standard food manufacturing processes are ineffective in eradicating Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) due to its resilience.
  • A significant number of individuals with Crohn's disease show evidence of MAP, suggesting a potential etiological connection.
  • The debate continues within the medical community regarding the definitive human health impacts of MAP exposure.

Conclusions:

  • Effective control of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) in food requires addressing its presence in the primary animal reservoir.
  • Implementing on-farm measures to manage Johne's disease in livestock is a critical strategy to minimize potential human exposure to MAP.
  • Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the zoonotic implications of MAP and its role in human inflammatory bowel diseases.

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