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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, November 2005, p. 7107-7112, Vol. 71, No. 11
0099-2240/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.71.11.7107-7112.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Occurrence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in Untreated Water in Northern Ireland

Lynne Whan,¹ Hywel J. Ball,² Irene R. Grant,¹ and Michael T. Rowe^1,3*

Department of Food Microbiology, Queen's University of Belfast,¹ Veterinary Science Division, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland,² Food Microbiology Branch, Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Science Division, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom³

Received 15 April 2005/ Accepted 20 July 2005

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis is the known cause of Johne's disease of both domestic and wild ruminants and has been implicated as a possible cause of Crohn's disease in humans. The organism is shed in the feces of infected animals and can survive for protracted periods in the environment and hence could be present in catchment areas receiving agricultural runoff. A limited survey was undertaken in Northern Ireland to test for M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis in untreated water entering nine water treatment works (WTWs) over a 1-year period. Three detection methods were employed, viz., immunomagnetic separation-PCR and culture on Herrold's egg yolk medium (HEYM) and BACTEC 12B medium, the latter both supplemented with mycobactins. Of the 192 untreated water samples tested, 15 (8%) tested M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis positive by one or more of the three detection methods. M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis was successfully isolated from eight untreated water samples, three by BACTEC culture and five by culture on HEYM. Although the highest incidence of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis was found in spring, overall, there was no statistically significant difference between the seasons. No significant correlation was found between numbers of coliforms or fecal coliforms and the presence of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis. In general, a higher incidence of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis was found in untreated water entering those WTWs that had a high mean water pH value over the sampling period. This work indicates the need to determine the efficacy of water treatment processes to either kill or remove M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis from untreated water and the possible risks posed by contact with recreational water sources.

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* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Food Microbiology, Queen's University of Belfast, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. Phone: 44 28 90 255291. Fax: 44 28 90 255009. E-mail: Michael.Rowe{at}dardni.gov.uk.

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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, November 2005, p. 7107-7112, Vol. 71, No. 11
0099-2240/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.71.11.7107-7112.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

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