Monday, October 20, 2025

On the Prevalence of M. avium Subspecies paratuberculosis DNA in the Blood of Healthy Individuals and Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Authors: Ramon A. Juste, Natalia Elguezabal, Joseba M. Garrido, Andres Pavon, Maria V. Geijo, Iker Sevilla, Jose-Luis Cabriada, Angel Tejada, Francisco García-Campos, Roberto Casado, Itziar Ochotorena, Ander Izeta, Robert J. Greenstein

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0002537

Abstract Summary

Researchers found MAP bacteria DNA in 47% of healthy individuals but only 16% of IBD patients. This surprising difference appears linked to IBD medications—drugs like methotrexate and 6-MP, which have anti-MAP properties, were associated with complete clearance of MAP DNA from blood. The findings suggest common IBD treatments may inadvertently act as antibiotics against this widespread pathogen.

Why Brain? 🧠

Study finds 47% of healthy people carry M. paratuberculosis DNA in blood versus only 16% of IBD patients, suggesting common IBD medications may act as antibiotics clearing this cattle pathogen from humans.


The image is AI-generated for illustrative purposes only. Courtesy of Midjourney.

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