Johne's Disease
Johne's Disease in Cows
Johne's disease is a disease that cows and other ruminants can get that primarily affects the small intestine. It is sometimes called paratuberculosis and is caused by the MAP bacteria.
The symptoms of Johne's disease are diarrhoea and wasting and are similar to inflammatory bowel diseases in man.
According to the American Society for Microbiology, people with Crohn’s disease are seven times more likely to have MAP bacteria in the tissues of their gut than people who do not have Crohn's disease. The MAP bacteria is the same bacteria that causes Johne's disease in cattle. The report they wrote, Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis: Infrequent Human Pathogen or Public Health Threat? can be viewed online in PDF format.
The critical issue today is not whether MAP is associated with CD, but whether MAP causes CD or is only incidentally present, not an inciter or participant in the disease process.