Background: The study describes population level variations in campylobacter incidence within the Canadian province of Manitoba, and the relationship to sociodemographic and landscape related characteristics. Using data derived from the Manitoba Health Public Health Branch communicable disease surveillance database, the study applied a number of spatial and ecological techniques to visualize, explore and model campylobacter incidence for the years 1996 to 2004. Analytical techniques used in the study included spatial smoothing, the spatial scan statistic, the Gini coefficient, and Poisson regression analysis.

This chapter discusses evidence linking Crohn's disease (CD) to Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). Topics covered are: Johne's disease; inflammatory bowel disease; genetic susceptibility; environmental factors; gut microorganisms; infection with MAP; and possible transmission pathways for CD - prevalence in milk, beef and water.

The emergence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli serotype O157:H7 as a major human pathogen over the last 2 decades has focused attention on this organism’s ruminant hosts. Despite implementation of conventional control methods, people continue to become seriously ill from contaminated meat or other food products, manure-contaminated drinking and recreational water, and direct contact with ruminants. E. coli O157:H7 can cause life-threatening disease, and is a particular threat to children, through acute and chronic kidney damage. Compared with other food-borne bacteria, E. coli O157:H7 has a remarkably low infectious dose and is environmentally robust. Cattle are largely unaffected by this organism and have been identified as the major source of E. coli O157:H7 entering the human food chain. Other Shiga toxin-producing E. coli can be pathogenic to humans and there is increasing evidence that their significance has been underestimated. Governments around the world have acted to tighten food safety regulations, and to investigate animal sources and on-farm control of this and related organisms. Potential intervention strategies on-farm include: feed and water hygiene, altered feeding regimes, specific E. coli vaccines, antibacterials, antibiotics, probiotics, and biological agents or products such as bacteriophages, bacteriocins, or colicins.

Many public health and regulatory agencies in various countries throughout the world recommend that milk be pasteurized and oppose the consumption of raw milk because of the potential risks of foodborne pathogen contamination. Pasteurization is a process in which raw milk is heated for a short time to destroy pathogens that may be present. Raw milk advocates claim that pasteurization of milk results in several undesirable effects, which, for the most part, have not been substantiated. The controversy surrounding the consumption of raw or pasteurized milk has been around for decades. However, the increased demand for raw milk has intensified the raw milk debate. This chapter re-examines some of these issues, and discusses the potential threats that raw milk consumption poses to consumers.