PREVALENCE OF MYCOBACTERIUM AVIUM SUBSPECIES PARATUBERCULOSIS IS 900 DNA IN BIOPSY TISSUES FROM PATIENTS WITH CROHN’S DISEASE: HISTOPATHOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR COMPARISON WITH JOHNE’S DISEASE IN FARS, IRAN

Background and Aim:The etiology of Crohn’s disease is still unknown but seems to be multifactorial. There are reports about the potential link between Crohn’s disease in human and the causative agent of ruminants Johne’s disease, Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP). The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of MAP in the biopsy tissues of Crohn’s patients in Fars Province/ IranMethods:Intestinal biopsies of 30 patients with confirmed diagnosis of Crohn’s disease and 30 patients diagnosed as non-inflammatory bowel disease were studied by molecular, histopathological and histochemical methods. Also, 30 adult goats affected by Johne’s disease were studied, comparatively. DNA extractions of tissue specimens were subjected to PCR to amplify a 413-bp sequence of the IS900 gene.Results:Using IS900-PCR, the overall prevalence of MAP in Crohn’s patients and non-inflammatory bowel disease were 47% and 13%, respectively. Also, the prevalence of MAP in goats with Johne’s disease was 70%. Using acid fast staining, only 7% of Crohn’s patients were scantly positive as paucibacillary and 43% of Johne’s disease cases were moderate to severely positive as multibacillary. Histopathologically, granulomatous enteritis (83% and 90%), lymphoplasmacytic enteritis (17% and 14%), edema and lymphangiectasia (67% and 96%), and vasculitis (20% and 73%) were common findings in Crohn’s and Johne’s diseases, respectively.Conclusion:Our findings demonstrate a remarkable association between MAP and Crohn’s disease in this population. With considering the prevalence of Johne’s disease in this province, public health officials may contribute to a better understanding of the potential routes of transmission of MAP to humans.

Keywords:

IS900-PCR , Crohn’s disease , Johne’s disease , Mycobacterium avium subsp. Paratuberculosis