Mycobacterium bovis Transmission between Cattle and a Farmer in Central Poland

Abstract

Introduction: Zoonoses have recently become an increasing public health problem. Zoonoses are estimated to account for 60% of all emerging infectious diseases. One particularly important zoonosis is human tuberculosis, especially tuberculosis due to Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis), which is naturally resistant to pyrazinamide (PZA). Material and Methods: The patient had a pulmonary form of tuberculosis accompanied by a cough and fever. At the same time, the disease was also confirmed in 20 out of 25 cattle on the farm. The clinical specimen (sputum) was examined in accordance with the European Union (EU) laboratories’ methodology. Tissue materials from cattle were verified in the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), in the Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) Reference Laboratory, Pulawy, Poland and tested in accordance with the guidelines for the laboratory diagnosis of BTB. Results: All M. bovis isolates represented one spoligotype, SB0120. The results of mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit variable number tandem repeat (MIRU-VNTR) evaluation showed the same genetic pattern. Conclusion: Findings from this study suggest the first confirmed interspecific transmission of Mycobacterium bovis, between a farmer and his cattle, in Poland. Present findings support the increasing concern regarding zoonotic TB that has been highlighted elsewhere.

Recent progress in the genotyping of bovine tuberculosis and its rapid diagnosis via nanoparticle-based electrochemical biosensors

“… 89 In Poland, inter-species transmission of M. bovis between a farmer and his cattle has been reported. 126 Other WGS studies have been used to exhibit the dynamic transmission of M. bovis isolates between cattle and wildlife populations in different epidemiological settings, including in the UK, 127 Ireland, 128 New Zealand, 79 United States of America, 123 Mexico, 129 Italy, 130 Spain 131 and Bulgaria. 132 All the above demonstrate the value of WGS research of M. bovis transmission at the livestock–wildlife interface, presenting insights into bTB control.…”

“… 6 It usually spreads to people after close contact with diseased animals or the consumption of soiled, unpasteurized dairy products. 7 The symptoms of the human disease of M. bovis , which is resistant to PZA, 8 one of the first TB medications, are like those caused by M. tuberculosis . 9 It has been assessed that M. bovis accounts for less than 1.5% of all human cases of TB in areas outside of Africa and almost 2.8% of all TB disease in Africa.…”

Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Mycobacterium bovis at the Human-Animal-Ecosystem Interface in France: “A One Health Approach”

“…For many years the combination of spoligotyping + MIRU-VNTR has been considered as the reference method for the realization of molecular epidemiological studies of M. bovis [47][48][49][50][51]. Recently, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has become the preferential technique to inform outbreak response through contact tracing and source identification for many infectious diseases, including bovine tuberculosis [52].…”

Mycobacterium avium and Klebsiella pneumoniae co-infection in the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) – Case Report

“…The zoonotic potential of Mycobacterium spp. has been described in more than one publication [31][32][33][34]. Mycobacterium avium complex infections usually occur in people with compromised immunity [35]; however, there are also other risk factors, such as low body mass index, vitamin D deficiency, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, or rheumatoid arthritis [36].…”