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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #252463
Title: Assessment of Food as a Source of Exposure to Mycobacterium avium Subspecies Paratuberculosis (MAP)

Author
item BAUER, N - Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS)
item BOOR, K - Cornell University
item COOK, MARGARET - Tyson Foods
item COLE, E - Department Of Commerce
item COLLINS, MICHAEL - University Of Wisconsin
item FREIER, T - Cargill Corporation
item JAYKUS, L - North Carolina State University
item KING, R - Department Of Defense
item MAZZOTTA, A - Campbell Soup Research
item KOWALCYK, B - Center For Foodborne Illness Research & Prevention (CFI)
item PERENCEVICH, E - University Of Maryland
item RADCLIFF, R - Marshfield Clinic Research
item RUPLE, A - Department Of Commerce
item SCOTT, J - National Grocers Association
item THOMPSON, S - Hershey Company
item ZINK, D - Us Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
item Wesley, Irene

Submitted to: Journal of Food Protection
Publication Type: Government Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/11/2010
Publication Date: 7/20/2010
Citation: Bauer, N., Boor, K.J., Cook, M., Cole, E., Collins, M., Freier, T., Jaykus, L., King, R., Mazzotta, A., Kowalcyk, B., Perencevich, E., Radcliff, R., Ruple, A., Scott, J., Thompson, S., Zink, D., Wesley, I.V. 2010. Assessment of Food as a Source of Exposure to Mycobacterium avium Subspecies Paratuberculosis (MAP). Journal of Food Protection. 73(7):1357-1397.

Interpretive Summary: The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF or Committee) was asked to assess the importance of food as a source of exposure to Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), the causative agent of Johne’s disease, which affects primarily the small intestine of all ruminants. Based on a critical review of the literature, input from technical experts, among the NACMCF conclusions: (I ) Current methods for detection of MAP have significant limitations; (2) A standard method for the detection of viable MAP cells needs to be developed and adopted by researchers in order to accurately determine the presence and numbers of MAP in foods and other potential sources of exposure; (3) Aside from MAP-infected domestic ruminant animals, the organism is found infrequently. This may be a function of low prevalence and/or a consequence of the absence of reliable detection methods; (4) If MAP in cattle is controlled, the source of MAP in other animals, food and water may largely be eliminated.

Technical Abstract: The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF or Committee) was asked to assess the importance of food as a source of exposure to Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), the causative agent of Johne’s disease, which affects primarily the small intestine of all ruminants. The significance of MAP as a human pathogen is unknown and is being investigated by several research groups. The Committee was directed not to consider whether MAP is a human pathogen, and therefore did not evaluate the public health relevance of foodborne and other exposures to MAP. In the U.S., dairy cattle represent the largest population of MAP-infected animals (Johne’s disease positive herds) and therefore are the most likely source of direct or indirect exposure to humans. There are several possible modes of MAP transmission to humans, including exposure to a contaminated environment, person-to person transmission, direct contact with infected animals, as well as exposure to contaminated foods. After examining the scientific literature, the Committee made the following conclusions: Current methods for detection of MAP have significant limitations; A standard method for the detection of viable MAP cells needs to be developed and adopted by researchers in order to accurately determine the presence and numbers of MAP in foods and other potential sources of exposure; Aside from MAP-infected domestic ruminant animals, the organism is found infrequently. This may be a function of low prevalence and/or a consequence of the absence of reliable detection methods; If MAP in cattle is controlled, the source of MAP in other animals, food and water may largely be eliminated; Milk, particularly raw milk, may be a likely food source for human exposure to MAP; Thermal processes that deliver a 4-7 log reduction in the number of MAP cells should be adequate to inactivate the numbers of MAP estimated to be present in raw milk; A small percentage (< 3%) of commercially pasteurized milk may contain small numbers of viable MAP cells; Although the data are limited, cheese made from pasteurized milk is probably not a significant source of exposure to MAP, but the potential for exposure to MAP from milk products made from raw milk is unknown; Given the prevalence of MAP in U.S. cattle herds, ground beef may be a potential source of MAP; MAP survives in cattle feces, water and soil, and is found in many wild animals, therefore, farm run-off may potentially contaminate irrigation water which can come in contact with fruits and vegetables and result in human exposure; Although there is no information to indicate that municipal drinking water is a source of human exposure to MAP, further study is needed; Although humans may be exposed to MAP through a variety of routes, including food and the environment, the frequency and amount of exposure will require additional research.