Submitted to: American Veterinary Medical Association Abstract
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: July 12, 1995
Publication Date: N/A
Technical Abstract: Crohn's disease in humans is a severe inflammatory enteritis involving the terminal ileum. To date no one has been able to determine the pathogen which causes Crohn's disease, however, numerous viral and bacterial organisms have been identified in Crohn's disease tissue. Many species of mycobacteria have been isolated from intestinal tissue from Crohn's patients, including Mycobacterium paratuberculosis which is the causative agent in paratuberculosis. Paratuberculosis in cattle shares similar characteristics with Crohn's disease as it is a chronic enteritis associated with diarrhea, reduced appetite, wight loss, and death. Identification of M. paratuberculosis in Crohn's disease tissue has been inconsistent and highly variable. A recent finding that M. paratuberculosis DNA is present in retail milk samples has led to a concern that presence of the organism may be a contributing factor to Crohn's disease. Studies evaluating the effects of pasteurization conditions on viability of this organism have been initiated in several laboratories.