This guy has some good stuff on Map http://www.daleroose.com/health/map/

Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP) is a bacterium that in dairy cows and numerous other mammals, causes Johne's (pronounced "yo-nees") disease—a contagious, slowly progressive, and usually fatal infection centered around the small intestines. The infection is spread when an animals ingests milk or *** from an infected animal, or the bacteria is passed to an offspring in the womb.

Once a calf swallows contaminated milk or ***, it passes to the ileum where macrophages are released by the immune system to fight the infection. Unlike other bacteria that are engulfed by macrophages and marked to be killed by other cells of the immune system, MAP bacteria make a home in macrophages where they thrive.

Researchers at the University of Liverpool recently discovered that MAP releases a molecule that causes an immune deficiency preventing macrophages of the immune system from killing E. coli—a species of bacteria commonly found in the intestines but normally kept in check by the immune system.

The immune system reacts to the infection and releases more macrophages but rather than kill the MAP bacteria, they provide a hospitable environment for MAP reproduction. The immune system also releases cytokines which cause inflammation of the intestines and malabsorption of nutrients.

Ruminants--animals that regurgitate undigested food--are more susceptible to MAP infection than non-ruminants, possibly because the MAP bacteria is spread with regurgitated food.

Because MAP reproduces extremely slowly, intestinal inflammation usually continues for years through periods of relative remission and relapse. Damage to the intestines accumulates usually until the animal grows older and dies.

Although MAP does not generally reproduce in the external environment, it can survive for more than a year. Cattle may become infected from *** in the pasture or the bacteria may be transferred to the calf in the womb. Younger cattle are generally more susceptible to infection than older cattle.

There are no apparent symptoms in the early stages of infection and no reliable test for infection. Since MAP is not considered a human pathogen, only about one in four herds in the U.S. are screened for MAP even though MAP is found in about three in four herds screened.

Seemingly healthy cattle with MAP infection produce milk for their young and for human consumption as milk or other dairy products. Some infected cattle that show signs of disease are slaughtered and sold for consumption as beef or beef byproducts while those that show no signs of disease are treated as healthy animals..

Most common species of bacteria that might appear in milk are killed by pasteurization as generally practiced in the U.S., but MAP is the bacteria that's too tough to die (like the town of Tombstone, Arizona). Studies have found viable MAP bacteria in samples of milk sold at retail.

MAP bacteria cause intestinal disease not only in cattle but also in other species including goats, sheep, bison, deer, elk, and non-human primates and its ability to cross species among mammals is well establised. So what about humans?

Paratuberculosis in Humans

MAP bacteria is known to cause infection in persons with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), though it may be identified as part of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). It might be diagnosed broadly as Mycobacterium other than Tuberculosis (MOTT), as Nontuberculous Mycobacterium (NTM), or as Hot Tub Lung. The source of identified infection in AIDS patients is sometimes found to be contaminated water including tap water where Mycobacteria can live as long as one year. The lungs are a common site for these infections.

While MAP (or MAC) is known to be a common pathogen in persons with AIDS, less has been documented about MAP in paitients with other secondary immune deficiencies and with primary immune deficiencies.

Disregarding an overwhelming body of evidence suggesting that paratuberculosis causes intestinal disease in humans, the medical profession has maintained faith that humans are not susceptible to the effect that paratuberculosis has on other species.

Crohn's Disease (CD) in humans is an inflammatory disease that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract but most commonly affects the ileum. CD has traditionally been thought to be strictly an autoimmune diseases but the causal mechanism remains controversial.

The ileum is the only part of the gastrointestinal tract that contains Peyer's Patches which are a part of the immune system that provides protection from pathogenic organisms. Bacteria such as paratuberculosis encounter macrophages in Peyer's Patches and paratuberculosis infects macrophages. Cells in Peyer's Patches also function to identify invading organisms to initiate an immune response against that specific organism. Part of that immune response includes the release of cytokines which initiate inflammation.

In Crohn's Disease, the inflammation initiated by an immune response causes scarring and thickening of the wall of the intestines. Symptoms typically include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and malabsorption of nutrients. Since Vitamins B12 and D are primarily absorbed in the ileum, inflammation limited to the ileum can cause malabsorption of these vitamins even though other nutrients may be absorbed. Thickening of the intestinal wall can cause blockages. Fistulas—a sort fo black hole connecting to other organs—can also form. The damage varies between individuals so the symptoms vary as well. Weight loss, for example, is common in both Johne's Disease in cattle and Crohn's Disease in humans, but not all cattle with Johne's Disease lose weight nor do all humans with Crohn's Disease. Crohn's typically follows a course of remission and relapse.

Treatments for Crohn's Disease typically consists of drugs that reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system, antibiotics for opportunistic infections (none effective against mycobacteria), anti-diarrheals, and nutrition supplementation to treat malabsorption. Finally, severely damaged sections of the intestines are removed surgically in two-thirds to three-quarters of patients.

Some people are genetically predisposed to Crohn's; people of Jewish heritage are at increased risk; and African Americans are at decreased risk of developing Crohn's.

The prevalence of Johne's Disease in the United States has been increasing exponentially since its first discovery in 1908 and at the current rate, approximately 90% of herds will be infected by 2020. The incidence of Crohn's Disease has risen steadily over the past fifty years. Crohn's was first identified in 1932.

Crohn's Disease, Johne's Disease, and interestingly Multiple Sclerosis are more common in colder, wetter climates typically found in northern latitudes where there is less sunlight than near the equator.

Increased presence of both paratuberculosis and E. coli have been found in intestinal tissues from patients with Crohn's Disease, which could be explained by the discovery that paratuberculosis releases a molecule that prevents macrophages from killing E. coli.

Notes

• MAP — Family: Mycobacteriaceae; Genus: Mycobacterium; Species: M. avium; Subspecies: paratuberculosis. "myco-" refers to a waxy substance in the cell wall, not to fungus.
• Tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis which, like MAP, is a member of the family Mycobacteriaceae.

Here is a little clip on a study in 2004  

Tuesday, August 10, 2004
M. paratuberculosis found in U.S. milk. Viable (living) M. paratuberculosis organisms (the mycobacterium that causes Johne's disease), were found in low numbers in commercially pasteurized milk purchased from stores in California, Minnesota and Wisconsin according to research conducted by Dr. Jay Ellingson, Marshfield Clinic Laboratories, Marshfield, WI, USA . Of 702 samples tested, 2.8 percent contained viable M. paratuberculosis organisms. This study's results agree with previous research conducted in Great Britain and were presented recently at the International Association for Food Protection conference. The full study will be presented at the International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis, Aug. 14 - 18, Copenhagen, Denmark ( http://www.8icp.dk/ ).
Study factsheet

 There are some big words in this one so don't let that scare you off.  The important parts anyone can understand...

Causation of Crohn's disease by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis.

St George's Hospital Medical School, London, United Kingdom. jhermon@sghms.ac.uk

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) is a member of the M avium complex (MAC). It differs genetically from other MAC in having 14 to 18 copies of IS900 and a single cassette of DNA involved in the biosynthesis of surface carbohydrate. Unlike other MAC, MAP is a specific cause of chronic inflammation of the intestine in many animal species, including primates. The disease ranges from pluribacillary to paucimicrobial, with chronic granulomatous inflammation like leprosy in humans. MAP infection can persist for years without causing clinical disease. The herd prevalence of MAP infection in Western Europe and North America is reported in the range 21% to 54%. These subclinically infected animals shed MAP in their milk and onto pastures. MAP is more robust than tuberculosis, and the risk that is conveyed to human populations in retail milk and in domestic water supplies is high. MAP is harboured in the ileocolonic mucosa of a proportion of normal people and can be detected in a high proportion of full thickness samples of inflamed Crohn's disease gut by improved culture systems and IS900 polymerase chain reaction if the correct methods are used. MAP in Crohn's disease is present in a protease-resistant nonbacillary form, can evade immune recognition and probably causes an immune dysregulation. As with other MAC, MAP is resistant to most standard antituberculous drugs. Treatment of Crohn's disease with combinations of drugs more active against MAC such as rifabutin and clarithromycin can bring about a profound improvement and, in a few cases, apparent disease eradication. New drugs as well as effective MAP vaccines for animals and humans are needed. The problems caused by MAP constitute a public health issue of tragic proportions for which a range of remedial measures are urgently needed.

PMID: 10888733 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

It is all over the World and nobody is talking about it!

 Here is a little Intro to the MAP Virus as posted on a site setup up by people suffering from MAP..http://www.crohns.org/map_food/index.htm

Introduction

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), which causes Johne's Disease in many species of ruminants, is endemic in the food animal herds of almost every developed country. According to a study conducted by the USDA in 1996, in the United States, between 20% and 40% of dairy cattle herds are infected with MAP, resulting in economic losses of at least US$1.5 billion each and every year.  (Results of a new USDA survey will be published in 2003 based on data collected in 2002.  With Johne's disease increasing at an alarming rate, undoubtedly the new figures will be higher, perhaps significantly higher, than those in 1996.) 

Since MAP is not classified as a human pathogen, meat, milk and other products from animals infected with MAP may be continually entering the human food chain. There is a wealth of evidence which appears to indicate that MAP is capable of surviving the food processing methods that we employ to protect us from disease, such as cooking and pasteurization. This scientific evidence is thoroughly reviewed and discussed in the MAP in Dairy Products,  MAP in Beef Products, and Marshfield Clinic Study sections of our website.  

MAP as a Food Safety Problem in the U.S.

Concerns about MAP and the scientific studies which suggest a connection to Crohn's disease in humans raise extremely grave concerns about food safety.

What are the chances that live MAP is in our food?  It is an undisputed scientific fact that live MAP is excreted in the milk of infected cattle.  Terrifyingly enough, scientific studies published in peer-reviewed journals have determined that MAP may be capable of surviving U.S. pasteurization standards. And, scientists have levied significant criticism at the one study that disagrees with the other studies, citing a misinterpretation of data by the scientists that conducted the study.   (See the MAP in Dairy Products section for detailed information.)

As a bit of history, in 1993, the first scientific study was published indicating that MAP may survive pasteurization standards used in the U.S.  This study was ignored by federal agencies responsible for food safety in the U.S.

Much later, in 1998 when University of Wisconsin researchers published their findings that MAP was able to survive current U.S. pasteurization standards, this study was again ignored by U.S. Federal Agencies cognizant of food safety. All in all, during the period 1993 through 2000 -- seven long years -- nine (9) scientific studies came in from the U.S. and around the world which suggested that MAP may survive current U.S. pasteurization standards/practices, and all of them were tossed to the side, ignored by cognizant U.S. Federal Agencies such as USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) and FDA (Food and Drug Administration).

In May of 2002, a study was published, entitled "Incidence of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis in Bulk Raw and Commercially Pasteurized Cows' Milk from Approved Dairy Processing Establishments in the United Kingdom"  (Grant, I.R.; Ball, H J.; Rowe, M.T.  Applied and Environmental Biology, May 2002, p. 2428-2435, Vol. 68. No. 5).  Results from this study confirmed that MAP survives pasteurization standards used in the UK, pasteurization standards which equal or exceed those used in the U.S.

Regardless, despite MANY pleas from PARA since mid 1997,  the USDA and FDA have not taken measures to exert the precautionary principle in determining whether indeed the food we give our children is free from contamination with MAP.

A Recent Piece you may have seen in the papers or on the web...

by Emily Clever / STAFF WRITER

12 days ago | 576 views | 0  | 4  |  | 

Every morning, showerheads spray bacteria all over their unsuspecting owners.

Mycobacterium avium, a bacteria in the same genus as tuberculosis, has been found in showerheads across the nation, according to new research by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

“Mycobacterium is a common bacteria in the environment,” said Mark Liles, a professor of microbiology.

Fortunately for humans, this bacteria primarily affects birds, said Kirby Farrington, coordinator of the microbiology teaching lab at Auburn University.

L. pneumophila, a germ that causes Legionnaires’ disease, was also found in the study, but was incredibly rare.

Mycrobacerium can be found worldwide and in common matter such as soil, water, animals and food.

They enter the human body via breathing or eating and infrequently cause infection.

The bacterium forms a biofilm, a colony of bacteria that adheres together.

Biofilms are common, as they grow in warm, moist climates such as at the bottom of rivers and streams, boat hulls and the interiors of pipes in buildings.

But while it seems Auburn’s climate is perfect for a bacterial infestation, there may be no reason to panic.

“Certainly many microorganisms favor warm, humid conditions, though I don't know that we are at any higher risk being in the South,” Liles said.

Dr. Shannon Waters of Greater Mobile Urgent Care said there has not been an outbreak related to mycobacterium or any water-based bacteria found in showerheads.

“If you are at high risk of infection due to a pre-existing medical condition such as AIDS or other immune dysfunction, then you are advised to reduce your risk of potential infection,” Liles said.

Farrington said an opportunistic pathogen is any microorganism that can cause disease if given the right conditions and chance.

“Keep in mind that every time you breathe, you are inhaling tens of thousands of bacteria,” Liles said. “We are literally living within a sea of microorganisms, the vast majority of which are not pathogenic. So an increase in the number of bacteria within a showerhead should not be undue cause for alarm.”

Farrington said a subspecies of mycobacterium avium can cause paratuberculosis, also known as Johne’s disease, which resembles tuberculosis in the way it affects the human body.

Waters said mycobacterium causes other infections as well, such as “walking pneumonia,” a less severe community acquired version of pneumonia.

Mycobacterium avium can be killed by most sanitizers, but some of the physiological characteristics of the bacteria make it resistant to sanitizers to a certain degree.

But once showers are infected, the bacteria can be hard to kill.

“Mycobacterium avium is resistant to most of the antituberculosis drugs, but some of the new macrolide antibiotics for example, azithromycin or clarithromycin have shown antibiotic activity against this bacterium in humans,” Liles said.

Liles does not think Auburn students should be concerned with bacteria in their showers.

“As Auburn University students are mostly young and healthy,” Liles said. “They are more likely to be at risk from spreading infectious agents to each other.”

According to health.com, changing and cleaning the showerhead once a year with an antibiotic solution once a year will prevent bacterial growth

So anyway that was a brief overview of the situation...There is plenty of more stuff on this...There was a study done just a couple of years ago here in the US and they found on average 7% of the Retail Milk in the Sampling had live MAP Virus in it...this was milk that had been pastuerized...they have since increased the Pastuerization times to help but it is disputed whether or not the new technique is effective...This is REAL...So all of you conspiracy freaks here is a real one...latch on to this one and save some lives! Oh and by the way...I am have first hand knowledge of what this virus can do to a person...I am currently taking care of a loved that is dealing with this...although the Virus has won in this case maybe if enough of us start to talk about it something can be done to spare the next generation from infection with this deadly virus...And here is how it effects the Market...There is a company Called Salix Phama that produces a drug called Xifaxan...this drug has been nothing short of a Miracle Drug for my loved one.  We were prescribed it off label...the drug was just recently approved to treat Hepatic Encephalopy (Dementia) which is what it was used for in My loved ones case...As I said it is a Miracle Drug...This Drug gave us at least 18 months of Quality time which otherwise would have been basically Hell...The market for this drug is Huge and Salix is going to make a fortune...this last year sales are up dramatically and the drug was just approved for this use...The symbol for this company is SLXP....This will be a Billion Dollar drug for this company in just a few years...if not sooner...

Nuts................................ Nuts, as you say nuts!

Robert I  think real stuff may just be too tame for them.

  I suggested a site awhile a few days ago thats sole purpose is exposing fraud in government and reporting on the money that goes into the hands of our government officials and how frivously it is spent etc. etc.  and I was told that there was no way by one of those you mention that this person would even consider looking at that site.

Sadly I guess you are correct...This is not make believe....This is not something I know of by heresay or just reading about....This Virus...MAP is in Milk and now Muncipal Water supplies...The effects of the infection are VERY expensive....This epidemic is driving our Healthcare costs through the roof....We have spent well over a million on just my loved one.....and it would have been much higher had this person made it long enough to be transplanted....And Nobody is talking about it....It really is just BS....The Commericials should be saying....Got MAP?...You Will!.....And once again if any of you are suffering from IBS or Crohnes or Colitis I strongly recommend that you look into the drug XIFAXAN...I also recommend looking into to this drug for people who are suffering from dimentia or Migraine Headaches....Research the drug and Consult your Doctor....The company that sells this drug is SLXP...Salix Pharm....Like I said it is a Miracle Drug....welll antibiotic...I would expect SLXP at least double in stock prices over the next two years as this med becomes widely prescribed.

Thank you Robert,  I will check into SLXP and also ask my doctor about this.

Barbara Jones:

Robert I  think real stuff may just be too tame for them.