During August 2012–February 2013, bovine tuberculosis was detected in communal livestock bordering the Greater Kruger National Park Complex (GKNPC) in South Africa. Using spacer oligonucleotide and variable number tandem repeat typing, we identified the Mycobacterium bovis strain endemic in GKNPC wildlife. Our findings indicate bovine tuberculosis spillover from GKNPC wildlife to neighboring livestock.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the risk factors associated with zoonotic tuberculosis in humans and its transmission to people living at the wildlife–livestock–human interface. A questionnaire was administered to collect information on food consumption habits, food handling practices, and knowledge of zoonotic TB. Sputum samples were also collected from 150 individuals that belonged to households of cattle farmers with or without a bTB infected herd. In addition, 30 milk samples and 99 nasal swabs were randomly collected from cattle in bTB infected herds for isolation of Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis). The sputum samples were screened for TB using the GeneXpert test and this was followed by mycobacterial culture and speciation using molecular techniques. No M. bovis was isolated from TB positive sputum samples and only one sample was confirmed as Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). M. bovis was isolated from 6.6% (n = 2/30) milk samples and 9% (n = 9/99) of nasal swabs. Ownership of a bTB infected herd and consumption of milk were recognized as highly significant risk factors associated with a history of TB in the household using multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) and logistic regression. The findings from this study have confirmed the potential for zoonotic TB transmission via both unpasteurized milk and aerosol thus, the role of M. bovis in human TB remains a concern for vulnerable communities.

Results: One hundred and twenty-eight patients underwent CAPD. The peritonitis rate was 1.45 episodes per year at risk. The prevalence of CAPD patients affected by at least one episode of CAPD-associated peritonitis during 2016 was 56.3%. The majority of episodes (76.7%) (n = 122) were mono-microbial. Gram-positive organisms accounted for 73.0% (n = 116) of the peritonitis episodes, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus being the most common. Gram-negative organisms accounted for 15.7% (n = 25) of the peritonitis episodes, and the common pathogens was Enterobacteriaceae. Conclusion:The peritonitis rate was alarmingly high, with 1.45 episodes per year at risk; this is three times more than the recommended 0.5 episodes per year according to the ISPD guidelines. The culture-negative rate of 8.8% is within ISPD-acceptable limits. There is a need to strengthen preventive measures with regard to peritonitis.

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