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2007-2009 Subcommittee: Assessment of the Food Safety Importance of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP)
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Subcommittee Members
- Dr. Donald Zink, Working Group Chair
- Dr. Gary Ades
- Dr. Lee-Ann Jaykus
- LTC Robin King
- Ms. Barbara Kowalcyk
- Dr. Joseph Madden
- Dr. Alejandro Mazzotta
- Dr. Eli Perencevich
- Ms. Jenny Scott
- Dr. John Sofos
- Dr. Irene Wesley
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 17, 2007 |
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