Crohn’s, IBD and the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Many of our community members have expressed concern over the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Specifically, how will the coronavirus affect Crohn’s and IBD patients?

While this is still a developing area of research, there is a new international, pediatric and adult database to monitor and report on outcomes of COVID-19 occurring in IBD patients: SECURE-IBD (Surveillance Epidemiology of Coronavirus Under Research Exclusion).

While this data is not intended to inform clinical decisions, it is a unique and up-to-date resource specific to IBD patient response to COVID-19. IBD clinicians are encouraged to report all confirmed cases of COVID-19 in IBD patients, regardless of severity.

Please stay safe and reach out to us via email or on our social media platforms with questions and concerns.

For more information about coronavirus and IBD, please see these excellent resources:

United States: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
United Kingdom: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care
Australia: https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov
European Union: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/novel-coronavirus-china
Ireland: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/coronavirus.html

World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center: https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

University of Washington IHME Models: https://covid19.healthdata.org/projections

Implications of COVID-19 for patients with pre-existing digestive diseases:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langas/article/PIIS2468-1253(20)30076-5/fulltext

Coronavirus and IBD reporting registry:
https://covidibd.org/

IOIBD Update on COVID-19:
https://www.ioibd.org/ioibd-update-on-covid19-for-patients-with-crohns-disease-and-ulcerative-colitis/

 

MAP/Crohn’s Disease Testing Study

In October, we gave a comprehensive update on the progress of our inaugural study and were optimistic that we were nearing completion and publication. The 200 patient blood samples have been tested for MAP by all 6 research groups. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of 40 chosen MAP isolates with statistical analysis was the sole item that remained. The source material for these isolates was provided by Dr. Bull, Dr. Grant and Dr. Naser, and Dr. Bull’s lab was working to complete the WGS sequencing in London.

While preparing the isolates for WGS, it was discovered that some of the isolates may not be suitable for WGS. Alternate processing strategies were discussed and implemented by the research team, which eventually concluded that these samples should be excluded from WGS processing to assure accuracy.

Additional MAP positive samples were processed from the labs of Dr. Bull and Dr. Grant to reach a total of 40 isolates. In early March, the isolates were finalized and awaiting a slot on the sequencer. Due to the more immediate threat of the coronavirus, lab resources were reallocated at that point and our study was paused. We expect the WGS portion of the study to be completed once it is safe to proceed.

In the interim, the research team has decided to move forward with publication of the study. The WGS results will be published as an addendum at a later date. The submission is being finalized and will be sent to the chosen journal as soon as possible.

 

Pediatric MAP Testing Pilot Study

Our pediatric testing study in partnership with Otakaro Pathways, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and McGill University has been placed on hold due to the coronavirus. Prior to the hold, Otakaro received samples from both institutions, and results are pending. Once the results are finalized, the research team will determine how they wish to proceed.

 

Colloquium to Establish Human MAP Testing Guidelines

Volunteers at Human Para have been working for months with our research partners to organize a conference devoted entirely to human MAP testing. The conference was originally scheduled for June 19th, to follow 15th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis (ICP) in Dublin. In early March, as plans were being finalized and an announcement to our community was imminent, the event was put on hold due to the escalating coronavirus pandemic.

Additionally, due to the unprecedented global crisis, the ICP was postponed to April 6-9, 2021. While we were looking forward to hearing the new MAP research that these conferences would have produced, the health and safety of the speakers, attendees and service providers is paramount.

Human Para is looking for alternative ways to accomplish the goals of our conference, which are to (1) detail the methods of human MAP testing that currently exist; (2) draft guidelines for human MAP testing moving forward; and (3) identify knowledge gaps that can be filled by future research. We hope to be able to provide an update on our progress in the coming weeks.