Estimation of Brucella and Mycobacterium bovis contamination in bovine milk in Africa

Abstract

Background and Aim: Bovine brucellosis and tuberculosis are zoonotic bacterial diseases transmitted through the consumption of raw milk and dairy products. Many developed countries have eliminated bovine brucellosis and tuberculosis in their cattle herds, however, the diseases are still endemic in Africa. Despite the public health risk of these pathogens, the sale and consumption of unpasteurized milk are still common in some African countries. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of Brucella and Mycobacterium bovis in bovine milk. Materials and Methods: A conceptual model for milk contamination was constructed and 1 million simulations were performed using data from published articles. Results: Brucella milk contamination was estimated at a median of 8.68% (interquartile range [IQR]: 5.95-11.97%; range: 2.41-25.16%). The median prevalence of M. bovis was estimated at 6.86% (IQR: 4.25-9.40%; range: 0.01-15.16%). Conclusion: These results indicate that there is a risk of Brucella and M. bovis transmission through the consumption of unpasteurized milk. The findings of this study highlight the need to improve the safety and quality of informally marketed milk in the region.

Epidemiological survey of bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis in the northwest region of the State of Paraná, in the period from 2018 to 2021

“…Estudos em outros países também demonstram diferentes taxas de detecção, Marrocos 1,9% prevalência de brucelose e 9% tuberculose (Azami et al, 2018), África 8,68% brucelose e 6,86% para tuberculose (Chidumayo, 2021), Etiópia 3,0% brucelose (Tesfaye et al, 2021), Iran 7% para brucelose (Mirnejad et al, 2017) e China com soroprevalência geral de 1,9%, de 2008 a 2018 para brucelose em rebanhos leiteiros passando de 1,6% em 2008-2012 para 2,6% em 2013-2018 (Ran et al, 2019), sendo apontado pelos autores as principais causas para ocorrência das infecções, a não fiscalização de rebanhos, a movimentação de animais sem atestado sanitário, introdução de novos bovinos nas propriedades e sistemas de criação intensiva.…”

Coordinated response of milk bacterial and metabolic profiles to subacute ruminal acidosis in lactating dairy cows

“…Among them, Mycobacterium bovis ( M. bovis ), a pathogen that belongs to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, is most commonly reported in researches on cows since it causes zoonotic tuberculosis (TB) disease [ 39 , 40 ]. Recently, an increasing number of studies reported that M. bovis milk contamination is at a relatively wide prevalence as a result of contact between healthy cows and infected cows in modern intensive farming systems [ 41 – 43 ]. Milk-borne transmission of zoonotic TB by M. bovis always occurs through the consumption of unpasteurized or poor pasteurized contaminated dairy products [ 44 , 45 ].…”

Taeniasis-cysticercosis complex and tuberculosis in food

“…In addition to the cultural issues of some groups, such as the Massai people who, during the dry season, when milk production is insufficient, cut the animals' jugular vein, collect blood and drink or mix it with milk. This factors those results in greater susceptibility (Chidumayo, 2021;Pal et al, 2014;Michel, 2015).…”