Manual on meat inspection for developing countries
Crohn's Disease: New Evidence Of Mycobacterial Involvement
Cite this articleCrohn's disease: new evidence of mycobacterial involvement. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 1, 68 (2004). Https://doi.Org/10.1038/ncpgasthep0040
Share this article Get shareable linkExploring Johne's Disease Transmission From Environment To Sheep
Johne's Disease, an inflammatory gut condition affecting livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats, continues to present a significant challenge to farmers worldwide. The disease, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), is often subclinical, making it difficult to detect until it manifests with severe symptoms like chronic diarrhoea, weight loss, and poor condition, potentially leading to death.
Johne's Disease is considered an 'iceberg disease' because much of the problem remains hidden beneath the surface, with most of the damage occurring out of sight. Its primary route of transmission is faecal-oral, where infected faeces contaminate grazing areas and water sources. In some cases, the infection is passed from infected mothers to their young via lactation or through mating with infected males. Wildlife, including deer and rabbits, also act as carriers of MAP, creating additional reservoirs of infection, particularly in Scotland, where deer populations are high.
A lesser-known transmission route is through the environment itself, where the bacteria can persist in soil and water for over three years. This is especially evident in regions like Scotland and Wales, where acidic soils, such as peatland, provide an ideal environment for the bacteria to survive. Understanding the role of the environment in Johne's Disease transmission is crucial, and this is the focus of a groundbreaking PhD project. The research explores how MAP prevalence in the environment contributes to the spread of the disease in sheep, including asymptomatic carriers.
Moredun researchers are studying how environmental factors contribute to the spread of Johne's Disease in ruminants. The project is a collaboration between the James Hutton Institute, Moredun, the University of Edinburgh, and local farmers. It aims to bridge the gap in current studies, which focus primarily on animal husbandry practices, while often overlooking the critical role the environment plays in spreading Johne's Disease. By examining the gut microbiomes of individual sheep across different farming systems, the research seeks to better understand how MAP infection impacts the natural gut biota and how farming environments affect the disease's transmission.
Professor Lee Innes, leading the research at Moredun, stresses the importance of this approach: "Farmers are at the heart of our research, as they are on the front line of tackling livestock diseases. This collaborative effort highlights the need for a broader understanding of Johne's Disease, considering both animal and environmental factors to create effective solutions."
As the research progresses, the focus remains on providing farmers with valuable insights into how environmental factors, alongside farming practices, influence the spread of Johne's Disease, ultimately helping to manage and reduce its impact on livestock health.
People's Pharmacy: Be Aware Of This Statin-induced Side Effect
DEAR PEOPLE'S PHARMACY: I had been on simvastatin for about 18 years when I suddenly became very ill. I was completely fatigued and the right side of my body felt tingly and numb. At the hospital, they thought at first it was a ministroke but ruled that out and sent me home.
I continued to feel quite unwell with peripheral neuropathy in my right leg. On the third trip to the hospital, one doctor asked how long I had been on statins and remarked that they sometimes cause side effects. That inspired me to discontinue the drug, although my GP wasn't enthusiastic.
About three months later, I began to feel almost normal. Over the past year, I have controlled my cholesterol through diet. To my surprise, my severe joint pain has also disappeared, and my digestive problems are fading. Have you heard from others who didn't suspect the statins were causing chronic symptoms?
A. There is an underdiagnosed condition called statin-induced autoimmune myopathy (Southern Medical Journal, April 2022). It can take years to show up and can be hard to treat. Even after stopping statins, some people continue to suffer symptoms such as fatigue, pain and muscle weakness that may interfere with getting out of a chair or climbing stairs.
To learn more about the side effects of statins and myositis, you may wish to read our "eGuide to Cholesterol Control & Heart Health." This online resource can be found under the Health eGuides tab at www.PeoplesPharmacy.Com.
Q. I am afraid you may have frightened a reader by mentioning tuberculosis as the problem treated by a combination of drugs that cleared their breathing difficulties. As a pulmonary care specialist, I know this combination would not be used for tuberculosis. Rather, it is the most common regimen for treating other infections, such as Mycobacterium avium complex.
A. Thank you for sharing your expertise. The drugs in question were azithromycin, rifabutin and ethambutol, along with an antifungal agent. These medicines are sometimes used to treat TB, but we hadn't taken the lung infection you mention into account. Our mistake.
The reader was pleased that this treatment cleared a long-lasting condition that resembled asthma. Whatever the underlying pathogen, the drug combination appears to have worked.
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In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of King Features, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803, or email them via their website: www.PeoplesPharmacy.Com. Their newest book is "Top Screwups Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them."
(c) 2025 King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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