Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in cattle from the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

Abstract

Background Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the main causative agent of tuberculosis (TB) in human and Mycobacterium bovis commonly causes tuberculosis in animals. Transmission of tuberculosis caused by both pathogens can occur from human to animals and vice versa.ResultsIn the current study, M. tuberculosis, as confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers targeting 3 regions of difference (RD4, RD9 and RD12) on the genomes, was isolated from cattle originating from two epidemiologically unrelated farms in the Eastern Cape (E.C) Province of South Africa. Although the isolates were genotyped with variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) typing, no detailed epidemiological investigation was carried out on the respective farms to unequivocally confirm or link humans as sources of TB transmission to cattle, a move that would have embraced the ‘One Health’ concept. In addition, strain comparison with human M. tuberculosis in the database from the E.C Province and other provinces in the country did not reveal any match.ConclusionsThis is the first report of cases of M. tuberculosis infection in cattle in South Africa. The VNTR profiles of the M. tuberculosis strains identified in the current study will form the basis for creating M. tuberculosis VNTR database for animals including cattle for future epidemiological studies. Our findings however, call for urgent reinforcement of collaborative efforts between the veterinary and the public health services of the country.

The History of In Vivo Tuberculin Testing in Bovines: Tuberculosis, a “One Health” Issue

“…Indeed, the transmission of M. tuberculosis from human-to-animal-to-human still occurs, and is an ongoing risk, especially in countries where there is close interaction of humans with animals and, is of particular public health concern, in places such as zoos, circuses, and exotic animal facilities where there may be contact between TB-susceptible animals and humans ( 30 – 37 ). Where there is no effective eradication programme operational in cattle, the routine presence of M. tuberculosis in samples from multiple cattle raises the possibility of human-to-cattle-to-human transmission and possible adaptation of strains of M. tuberculosis in bovine or other animal tissues underlining the importance of adopting effective TB control and eradication programmes in humans and livestock alike ( 38 – 41 ).…”

First detection ofMycobacterium bovisinfection in Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) in the Greater Kruger National Park Complex: Role and implications

“…The tissue samples were processed at the Tuberculosis Laboratory according to standard procedures (Hlokwe, Said, & Gcebe, ). The samples were inoculated onto Löwenstein–Jensen (L‐J) media supplemented with pyruvate and incubated at 37°C for up to 10 weeks.…”

Animal tuberculosis: impact of disease heterogeneity in transmission, diagnosis, and control

“…Information concerning human TB due to M. bovis is limited, even more, when developing countries are considered; however, zoonotic TB in humans has been confirmed in African countries, India and China (Grange, 2001). The growing populations of cattle in India, Ethiopia, South Africa and China could represent a serious animal and human health issue due to the circulation of M. bovis and also M. tuberculosis (the aetiological agent of human TB; Ameni et al, 2011; Chen et al, 2009; Hlokwe, Said, & Gcebe, 2017; Sweetline Anne, Ronald, Kumar, Kannan, & Thangavelu, 2017). When considering the Americas, both Mexico and United States reported details of TB epidemiology of zoonotic origin in specific areas, showing an increasing percentage of infections by M. bovis (Mark, Neha, & Jennifer, 2015; Torres‐Gonzalez et al, 2016).…”