We investigated the presence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in retail cheeses from Greece and the Czech Republic. We found that 31.7% and 3.6% of our samples reacted positive by PCR and culture, respectively. Consumption of these cheeses is likely to result in human exposure to M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis, albeit at a low level for viable cells.

School of Animal Science Department of Anatomy Physiology Agricultural University of Athens Iera Odos 75 11855 Votanikos Athens Greece

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Serological, culture and molecular survey of Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis in a goat flock in Tuscany