Tracing paratuberculosis in Colombia: A scoping review.

Abstract

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) and the disease it causes in cattle were first officially documented in Colombia in 1924 and originated from imported cattle. Since then, paratuberculosis (PTB) has received little attention, and there is currently no literature offering an updated overview of this disease in Colombia. This scoping review aims to synthesize the evidence and information compiled over the last 100 years to understand the epidemiology and public health response to PTB in Colombia. Using four academic databases, we retrieved articles that mentioned MAP/PTB in Colombia, had no language limitations, and were published between 1924 and 2024. In addition, we manually searched for proceedings from the 3rd to 16th International Colloquia on Paratuberculosis for existing published primary studies. A total of 48 original studies on MAP/PTB were identified and analyzed. Most related studies have been conducted during the past two decades and have focused primarily on cattle (89.4 %). ELISA (59.6 %) and PCR (42.6 %) were the most commonly used diagnostic methods. The study designs were predominantly descriptive or cross-sectional, with no cohort or casecontrol studies reported. Despite being a notifiable disease since 2015, no research has addressed MAP detection in food or humans. The findings revealed a fragmented research landscape, with significant gaps in diagnostics, epidemiology, molecular characterization, and public health impact. Policy issues are discussed, including the absence of legal frameworks to coordinate responses to the disease and its relationship with bovine tuberculosis. Colombia should acknowledge the presence of MAP/PTB within the country and address it as a national priority.