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2004-2006 Subcommittee: Assessment of the Food Safety Importance of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP)
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Subcommittee Members
- David Acheson: Working Group Chair
- Kathryn Boor
- Patricia Griffin
- Lee-Ann Jaykus
- Robin King
- Barbara Kowalcyk
- Joseph Madden
- Alejandro Mazzotta
- Dale Morse
- Eli Perencevich
- Jenny Scott
- John Sofos
- Irene Wesley
- Donald Zink
Background
Paratuberculosis, or Johne's disease, is an infectious bacterial disease
in animals that is caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis
(MAP). Johne's disease has been spreading slowly through domestic
livestock populations for nearly a century and has become endemic
in many countries. MAP, the etiologic agent of Johne's disease, is
being investigated as a pathogen of animals that may be naturally
transmitted to humans. In the U.S., dairy cattle represent the largest
population of MAP-infected animals (Johne's disease positive herds),
and therefore the most likely source of direct or indirect exposure
to humans.
MAP, like other members of the Mycobacterium avium complex
is an opportunistic pathogen in immune compromised persons. The question
remains whether generally immunocompetent individuals can be infected
with MAP and whether this leads to disease. Leaving aside whether
or not MAP is a pathogen to humans, there are several possible modes
of transmission, including exposure to a contaminated environment
(soil, water), person-to-person horizontal transmission, direct contact
with infected animals, pre-harvest and post-harvest contamination
of foods including produce and food products originating primarily
from dairy cattle, but also from beef cattle, sheep, and goats. Specifically,
the presence of MAP in raw milk has raised concerns about whether
MAP has potential public health significance.
Charge to the Subcommittee
The Committee is asked to limit their deliberations to the consideration
of a very specific set of questions. The Committee is not being asked
to consider the question of whether or not MAP is a human pathogen.
The Committee is asked to consider the following questions during
their deliberations:
- What food, water, or environmental sources are of
most concern with respect to exposure of humans to MAP?
- What are the frequencies and levels of MAP contamination
found in the above referenced sources?
- What is the efficacy of the current methods of detection
for MAP?
- What processing interventions are available for the
foods of concern to eliminate or reduce the levels of MAP contamination
to an acceptable level or to ensure that MAP does not enter the
food supply?
- What are the research needs to determine:
- additional sources of MAP;
- the frequencies and levels of MAP contamination
in specific sources of concern;
- potential processing interventions to eliminate
or reduce the levels of MAP contamination; and
- potential processing interventions to prevent
MAP from entering the food supply.
- Additional research needs?
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Last Modified:
July 6, 2006 |
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