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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · J Lab Physicians 2011; 3(02): 069-074
DOI: 10.4103/0974-2727.86836
Review Article

Mycobacterium avium Subspecies Paratuberculosis and Crohn’s Regional Ileitis: How Strong is Association?

Sarman Singh
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
,
Krishnamoorthy Gopinath
MRC/NHLS/WITS Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand and the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
› Author Affiliations Source of Support: Nil
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ABSTRACT

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is a well-established etiological agent of Johne’s disease in animals. In humans, similar clinical condition, first described by Crohn as regional ileitis in 1932, now known as Crohn’s diseases (CD), has also been associated with this mycobacterial species. However, there are two schools of thoughts, one favoring MAP as its etiological agent while the second considers it as an immune-inflammatory condition triggered by an external factor. Onset of CD requires a series of events including predisposition of certain inherited genetic traits, associated environmental stimuli, and immune-inflammatory response. A combination of these factors probably leads to this disease. Recently, some human genes have also been identified which regulate ability to respond appropriately to the external factors. Added to these factors are concerns about the selection of clinical specimens and poor adherence to laboratory quality controls. The literature is full of contradictory findings, but there a lack of uniformity in the materials and methods used by many of these researchers. In this review, we provide our perspective under above circumstances and give our point of view which may open a platform for debate regarding the MAP as the etiological agent of human CD.

Keywords

Crohn’s disease - IS900 - Johne’s disease - Mycobacterium avium subsp - paratuberculosis - mycobacterium - paratuberculosis


Publication History

Article published online:
09 May 2020

© 2011.

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