Paratuberculosis refers to an human disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis. This bacteria causes Johne's Disease in cattle and an accumulating body of scientific evidence suggests that it causes a roughly equivalent condition in humans called Crohn's Disease.

While Crohn's Disease is widely assumed to be incurable and the cause unknown, researchers in Australia report long term remissions or cures after treating Crohn's patients with antibiotics effective against the paratuberculosis bacterium. Some cases of paratuberculosis infection may have been misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), or other conditions.

The purpose of this group is to share information about both the bacterium and the disease as well as providing a support network for patients.

If you know of any doctors anywhere in the world who are providing antibiotic therapy for paratuberculosis infection, please let us know.

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Group Owner Comment

Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), of which paratuberculosis is a subset, causes serious disease in people who are immune deficient (e.g., AIDS patients). In my opinion, these bacteria are considered non-pathogenic to humans not because they only cause disease in people who lack resistance. The rubella virus only causes measles in people who lack resistance. MAC is considered non-pathogenic because the people who lack resistance represent a minority.