Crohn’s disease and the mycobacterioses: A quarter century later. Causation or simple association?

Abstract

It has been more than 25 years since Mycobacterium paratuberculosis was first proposed as an etiologic agent in Crohn's disease based on the isolation of this organism from several patients. Since that time, a great deal of information has been accumulated that clearly establishes an association between M. paratuberculosis and Crohn's disease. However, data are conflicting and difficult to interpret and the field has become divided into committed advocates and confirmed skeptics. This review is an attempt to provide a thorough and objective summary of current knowledge from both basic and clinical research from the views and interpretations of both the antagonists and proponents. The reader is left to draw his or her own conclusions related to the validity of the issues and claims made by the opposing views and data interpretations. Whether M. paratuberculosis is a causative agent in some cases or simply represents an incidental association remains a controversial topic, but current evidence suggests that the notion should not be so readily dismissed. Remaining questions that need to be addressed in defining the role of M. paratuberculosis in Crohn's disease and future implications are discussed.

Paratuberculosis or avian tuberculosis in red deer with chronic diarrhea?

“…It can be found worldwide and mainly affects domestic ruminants, being responsible for significant economic losses of livestock production (Lombard 2011). In addition, some authors consider Map to be a potential zoonotic agent, as it has been associated with Crohn's disease in humans (Chiodini et al 2012).…”

Modeling the Effect of Direct and Indirect Contamination of On-Farm Bulk Tank Milk with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis

“…paratuberculosis (MAP), the causative agent of paratuberculosis, has been speculated as a cause of Crohn's disease in humans (Behr and Kapur, 2008;Chiodini et al, 2012). Milk contaminated with MAP has been considered to be a potential source of exposure to humans (Grant, 2005).…”

Detection of Mycobacteria, Mycobacterium avium Subspecies, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex by a Novel Tetraplex Real-Time PCR Assay

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