Tuberculosis in African Wildlife

Michel, Anita Luise; Helden, Paul D. van

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-18690-6_5

“…In addition to buffalo, greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) has shown the potential to act as a maintenance host and most probably responsible for introducing M. bovis into a conservation area (Michel et al 2009). Warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus), a social species that show predominantly lung and intestinal tuberculous lesions, are considered potential bTB reservoir hosts in ecosystems supporting high population densities (Michel et al 2015); however, conclusive evidence is difficult to obtain in large reserves where other reservoir species are present -an assessment which is also true for lions (Panthera leo) (Michel & Van Helden 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges for controlling bovine tuberculosis in South Africa

Arnot

¹

,

Michel

²

2020

Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research

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Prevalence of bovine tuberculosis and characterization of the members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex from slaughtered cattle in Rwanda

Ntivuguruzwa

¹

,

Michel

²

,

Kolo

³

et al. 2021

Preprint

0

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BackgroundBovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an endemic disease in Rwanda, but little is known about its prevalence and causative mycobacterial species. The disease causes tremendous losses in livestock and wildlife and remains a significant threat to public health.Materials and methodsA cross-sectional study employing a systematic random sampling of cattle (n=300) with the collection of retropharyngeal lymph nodes and tonsils (n=300) irrespective of granulomatous lesions was carried out in six abattoirs to investigate the prevalence and identify mycobacterial species using culture, acid-fast bacteria staining, polymerase chain reaction, and GeneXpert assay. Individual risk factors and the origin of samples were analysed for association with the prevalence.FindingsOf the 300 samples, six were collected with visible TB-like lesions. Our findings demonstrated the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) in 1.7% (5/300) of sampled slaughtered cattle. M. bovis was isolated from 1.3% (4/300) animals while one case was caused by a rifampicin-resistance (RR) M. tuberculosis. Non-tuberculous mycobacteria were identified in 12.0% (36/300) of the sampled cattle. There were no significant associations between the prevalence and abattoir category, age, sex, and breeds of slaughtered cattle.ConclusionsThis study is the first in Rwanda to isolate both M. bovis and RR M. tuberculosis in slaughtered cattle indicating that bTB is prevalent in Rwanda with a low prevalence. The isolation of RR M. tuberculosis from cattle indicates possible zooanthroponotic transmission of M. tuberculosis and close human-cattle contact. To protect humans against occupational zoonotic diseases, it is essential to control bTB in cattle and raise the awareness among all occupational groups as well as reinforce biosafety at the farm level and in the abattoirs.Author’s summaryTuberculosis in cattle (bTB) causes financial losses to livestock owners and is a disease transmissible to humans especially those with an occupational risk through exposure to infected animals and animal products. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of bTB and characterize the mycobacterial species from cattle slaughtered in the six abattoirs in Rwanda. Four M. bovis, as well as one rifampicin-resistant (RR) M. tuberculosis, were identified from slaughtered cattle and, thus, the apparent bTB prevalence was 1.7% (5/300). Likely, the RR M. tuberculosis isolate was mostly likely of human origin and transmitted to cattle during close human-cattle contact. It is therefore essential to control bTB in cattle and reinforce the protection of farmworkers and abattoir workers who are always exposed to infected animals.

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Prevalence of bovine tuberculosis and characterization of the members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex from slaughtered cattle in Rwanda

Ntivuguruzwa

¹

,

Michel²,

Kolo³

et al. 2022

Self Cite

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Background Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an endemic disease in Rwanda, but little is known about its prevalence and causative mycobacterial species. The disease causes tremendous losses in livestock and wildlife and remains a significant threat to public health. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study employing a systematic random sampling of cattle (n = 300) with the collection of retropharyngeal lymph nodes and tonsils (n = 300) irrespective of granulomatous lesions was carried out in six abattoirs to investigate the prevalence and identify mycobacterial species using culture, acid-fast bacteria staining, polymerase chain reaction, and GeneXpert assay. Individual risk factors and the origin of samples were analysed for association with the prevalence. Findings Of the 300 sample pools, six were collected with visible TB-like lesions. Our findings demonstrated the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) in 1.7% (5/300) of sampled slaughtered cattle. M. bovis was isolated from 1.3% (4/300) animals while one case was caused by a rifampicin-resistance (RR) M. tuberculosis. Non-tuberculous mycobacteria were identified in 12.0% (36/300) of the sampled cattle. There were no significant associations between the prevalence and abattoir category, age, sex, and breeds of slaughtered cattle. Conclusions This study is the first in Rwanda to isolate both M. bovis and RR M. tuberculosis in slaughtered cattle indicating that bTB is present in Rwanda with a low prevalence. The isolation of RR M. tuberculosis from cattle indicates possible zooanthroponotic transmission of M. tuberculosis and close human-cattle contact. To protect humans against occupational zoonotic diseases, it is essential to control bTB in cattle and raise the awareness among all occupational groups as well as reinforce biosafety at the farm level and in the abattoirs.

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Tuberculosis in African Wildlife

Cited by 3 publications

References 58 publications

Challenges for controlling bovine tuberculosis in South Africa

Challenges for controlling bovine tuberculosis in South Africa

Prevalence of bovine tuberculosis and characterization of the members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex from slaughtered cattle in Rwanda

Prevalence of bovine tuberculosis and characterization of the members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex from slaughtered cattle in Rwanda

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