Findings of mycobacteria in insectivores and small rodents

Abstract

The organs of 30 insectivorous mammals and 62 rodents from areas inhabited by people or livestock where cattle paratuberculosis or mycobacterial infections of swine had been found to occur were examined by cultivation during the monitoring of occurrence and spread of mycobacterioses in cattle and swine. Mycobacteria were found in the organs of 3 insectivores (10%) and 6 rodents (9.7%). Mycobacterium chelonae was isolated from the organs of the lesser white-toothed shrew (Crocidura suaveolens) and the common vole (Microtus arvalis), and M. vaccae and M. avium subsp. avium (IS901+, serotype 1) from the organs of the common shrew (Sorex araneus). M. avium subsp. avium (IS901+, serotype 1) was also isolated from the organs of the yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis). Slow-growing mycobacteria of group III (according to Runyon) were isolated from the organs of the mouse (Mus musculus sensu lato) and the yellow-necked mouse (A. flavicollis). These findings had no connection with the epizootological situation in the nearby livestock. M. fortuitum was isolated from the organs of the common vole (M. arvalis) caught in a field within easy reach of a swine breeding herd. M. fortuitum was also identified in the lymph nodes and droppings of this swine herd, as well as in the straw, scrapings from the floor of stalls, troughs and banisters, as well as from larvae and imagoes of dipterous insects. These results demonstrate the possibility that insectivores and small rodents can spread the causative agents of mycobacteria in wild and domestic animals.

Mycobacterial infections in cattle in the Czech Republic during 1990-1999

“…e infection could, however, have also been brought into herds by infected small rodents which migrate for food to the barns of cattle farms in the autumn and winter months. Infection with these strains has been identified in these rodents (Fischer et al, 2000). Outside the host organism, these strains occur in the external environment very rarely (Horvathova et al, 1997).…”

“…M. terrae, M. chelonae, M. phlei and M. triviale) was most probably the external environment where these strains most frequently occur (Horvathova et al, 1997). Strains of these serotypes of the M. avium complex were also isolated from cold-blooded animals, invertebrates and small vertebrates that may also be their source or vectors under certain circumstances (Matlova et al, 1998;Fischer et al, 2000Fischer et al, , 2001.…”

Wild boar (Sus scrofa) as a possible vector of mycobacterial infections: review of literature and critical analysis of data from Central Europe between 1983 to 2001

“…Med. -Czech, 48, 2003 (3): 51-65 Original Paper vertebrates also carries risks of possible infection with various species of mycobacteria (Fischer et al, 2000) including M. bovis (Li�le et al, 1982a,b). In view of the nocturnal activity of wild boar, the transmission of bovine tuberculosis in particular through direct contact (aerosol) with domestic animals is not very likely (Serraino et al, 1999).…”

“…The state of health of livestock and people (above all individuals with an immunocompetency dysfunction) can then be threatened not only by contact with infected wild animals, but also with a contaminated environment. Animals living in the wild which have been infected by causal agents of serious mycobacterial infections can, under certain conditions, become reservoirs of these mycobacterial infections (Li�le et al, 1982a,b;Hejlicek et al, 1994;Fischer et al, 2000).…”

Incidence of bovine tuberculosis in wild and domestic animals other than cattle in six Central European countries during 1990-1999

“…Fresh or frozen samples (approx. 1 g) were homogenised and examined for the presence of mycobacteria by direct microscopy after staining with Ziehl-Neelsen and by culture (Fischer et al, 2000).…”