Tracing paratuberculosis in Colombia: A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Epidemiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) causing paratuberculosis (PTB) was documented in Colombian cattle in 1924.
• PTB has received minimal research attention in Colombia, with no recent comprehensive overview available.
• This scoping review addresses the knowledge gap regarding MAP/PTB epidemiology and public health response in Colombia over the past century.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize evidence on Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) and paratuberculosis (PTB) in Colombia from 1924 to 2024.
• To understand the epidemiology and public health response to PTB in Colombia.
• To identify research gaps and inform policy regarding MAP/PTB management.

Main Methods:

• Scoping review of literature from 1924 to 2024 using four academic databases.
• Manual search of International Colloquia on Paratuberculosis proceedings.
• Analysis of 48 identified original studies on MAP/PTB in Colombia.

Main Results:

• Most studies (89.4%) focused on cattle, primarily conducted in the last two decades.
• ELISA (59.6%) and PCR (42.6%) were the most common diagnostic methods; study designs were mainly descriptive or cross-sectional.
• No research has investigated MAP detection in food or humans, despite PTB being notifiable since 2015.

Conclusions:

• The research landscape for MAP/PTB in Colombia is fragmented, with significant gaps in diagnostics, epidemiology, molecular characterization, and public health impact.
• There is an absence of legal frameworks for coordinated response and understanding the link with bovine tuberculosis.
• Colombia must recognize MAP/PTB as a national priority for effective disease management and control.