Berkeley Conference | A Call for Action
The following note was provided to Human Para by Dr. Karel Hruska. While Dr. Hruska is unable to attend the upcoming conference, we are grateful for his contribution and hope that his material is reviewed and considered by the attendees.
Karel Hruska, Brno, Czech Republic
Arnost Cepica, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada
Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are not only conventional opportunistic pathogens, but they are important sources of triggers of chronic immune-mediated and autoimmune disorders. We highlight the risk posed by NTM in water, food, and soil. Hence NTM are associated with the so called “civilization diseases” (Type 1 diabetes, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, asthma, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and others.)
Considering the wide exposure of public to mycobacterial triggers from the milk of cows affected by paratuberculosis, by drinking water from communal distribution systems, water from swimming pools, and contaminated surface waters, NTM present a global threat to public health.
NTM are not being currently controlled for. Alarming spread and subsequent public exposure to NTM has followed unmanaged spread of bovine paratuberculosis, as well as the fast pace urbanization, and westernization of life style of both developed and developing countries. Minimization of infant exposure to immunomodulatory triggers of NTM should be the highest priority, primarily through promotion of breast feeding, monitoring of milk used in manufacturing of baby formula for M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis, as well as monitoring of water used for food preparation, bathing, and baby swimming, for the levels of live or dead NTM.