Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic

Paratuberculosis in cattle:A possible risk for consumers

Paratuberculosis in cattle:A possible risk for consumers

Karel Hruška and Ivo PavlíkKarel Hruška and Ivo Pavlík

Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic

Paratuberculosis (Johne‘s disease)Paratuberculosis (Johne‘s disease)

caused by caused by Mycobacterium aviumMycobacterium avium subsp. subsp.

paratuberculosisparatuberculosis

no known toxins but strong immune reaction in the gutno known toxins but strong immune reaction in the gut

massive multiplication in acute phase of diseasemassive multiplication in acute phase of disease

presence in milk and meatpresence in milk and meat

Crohn diseaseCrohn disease similar pathological symptoms in mansimilar pathological symptoms in man

family history is a risk factorfamily history is a risk factor

autoimmune disease ? primed by bacterial mimicryautoimmune disease ? primed by bacterial mimicry

Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic

Crohn‘s disease incidence and importance

Crohn‘s disease incidence and importance

0,15 per cent of the population0,15 per cent of the populationUSA 400 000 peopleUSA 400 000 people

costs 1,0 to 1,2 billion dolcosts 1,0 to 1,2 billion dolllararssWestern Europe 280 000 people Western Europe 280 000 people similar prevalence in Canada, Australia and similar prevalence in Canada, Australia and

New ZealandNew Zealand(all with high incidence of paratuberculosis)(all with high incidence of paratuberculosis)Central and Eastern European countries Central and Eastern European countries

have lower incidence of CD and less have lower incidence of CD and less paratuberculosis, but rapid increaseparatuberculosis, but rapid increase of of incidenceincidence in both diseases in both diseases

Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic

Risk factorsRisk factors

both viable and dead bacteria in milk, beef both viable and dead bacteria in milk, beef and venisonand venison

surviving of mycobacteria in the surviving of mycobacteria in the environment and waterenvironment and water

several years of latent period of diseaseseveral years of latent period of disease difficult diagnosisdifficult diagnosis expensive eradication of paratuberculosisexpensive eradication of paratuberculosis absence of unified opinionabsence of unified opinion

Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic

Never is too early to look for the solution if the real problem existsNever is too early to look for the solution if the real problem exists

farmers must be informed why and how to farmers must be informed why and how to keep their herds paratuberculosis freekeep their herds paratuberculosis free

herds not yet infected should be protectedherds not yet infected should be protected milk and meat from infected cattle should milk and meat from infected cattle should

not be consumed by people under risk not be consumed by people under risk (children and family members of CD (children and family members of CD patients)patients)

bioproducts cannot be marketed from bioproducts cannot be marketed from cattle suffering from paratuberculosis cattle suffering from paratuberculosis