Short communication: Recovery of viable Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis from retail pasteurized whole milk in Brazil

Abstract

Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the etiological agent of paratuberculosis, a chronic granulomatous enteritis that affects all ruminants worldwide. Some researchers have indicated a possible role of MAP in Crohn's disease. Despite extensive research and large and important advances in the past few decades, the etiology of Crohn's disease remains indefinite. The most probable transmission route of MAP from animals to humans is milk and dairy products. Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis has already been detected in milk samples worldwide, and some studies have reported that MAP is resistant to pasteurization. In Brazil, MAP has been reported in raw milk samples; however, Brazilian retail pasteurized milk has not yet been tested for viable MAP. The aim of this study was to investigate MAP in pasteurized milk in the region of Viçosa (Minas Gerais, Brazil). Thirty-seven samples were collected and processed for culture of MAP. One colony similar to MAP was observed and confirmed by IS900-nested PCR and sequencing. Analysis revealed 97 to 99% identity with the MAP K-10 strain. This study is the first report of the presence of MAP in retail pasteurized whole milk in Brazil.

Mycobacterium aviumsubspeciesparatuberculosis –an important food borne pathogen of high public health significance with special reference to India: an update

“…Pasteurized milk: Reported bio-load of MAP by different workers using milk culture was 2. 8, 1.8-6.7, 2.7, 2.8, 15.0, 6.9, 1.6% in USA, UK, Brazil, Argentina, Ontario, N. Ireland and Czech republic, respectively (Millar et al 1996;Grant et al 2002a;Stabel 2002;O'Reilly et al 2004;Ayele et al 2005;Ellingson et al 2005;Grant 2005;Carvalho et al 2012aCarvalho et al , 2012bPaolicchi et al 2012).…”

Herd-level prevalence and associated risk factors for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in cattle in the State of Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil

“…Based on these observations, the link between MAP and CD has been widely investigated through direct and indirect methods for MAP detection (Chiodini et al, 2012). In Brazil, the presence of MAP DNA and the viability of MAP in raw and retail pasteurized milk (Carvalho et al, 2009(Carvalho et al, , 2012 and artisanal coalho cheese (Faria et al, 2014) has been proven, suggesting that live organisms might be transmitted to humans by ingestion of contaminated products.…”

Rapid and Sensitive Method To Identify Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in Cow's Milk by DNA Methylase Genotyping

“…Their method consisted in the amplification of a fragment of IS900, followed by dot blot or Southern blot analysis. Indeed, researchers have detected IS900 sequences in milk samples from samples obtained from different continents (13,(34)(35)(36)(37)(38), suggesting that infection with M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis is prevalent around the world.…”