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Which intestinal bacteria have been linked with Crohn disease?
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digestive system disease
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Research into Crohn disease has identified associations between the condition and abnormal changes in populations of intestinal bacteria, though the exact cause of the disease remains unknown.1
Two specific bacteria have been linked to the condition:
- Faecalibacterium prausnitzii: This is a normal inhabitant of the human intestinal tract that is found in decreased levels in individuals diagnosed with Crohn disease.1
- Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis: This bacterium, which is found in the intestinal tracts of ruminants affected by Johne disease, has been isolated from the blood of some patients with Crohn disease.1