Tuberculosis infection in wildlife from the Ruaha ecosystem Tanzania: implications for wildlife, domestic animals, and human health

Abstract

Mycobacterium bovis, a pathogen of conservation, livestock, and public health concern, was detected in eight species of wildlife inhabiting protected areas bordering endemic livestock grazing lands. We tested tissues from 179 opportunistically sampled hunter-killed, depredation, road-killed, and live-captured wild animals, representing 30 species, in and adjacent to Ruaha National Park in south-central Tanzania. Tissue culture and PCR were used to detect 12 (8.1%) M. bovis-infected animals and 15 (10.1%) animals infected with non-tuberculosis complex mycobacteria. Kirk's dik-dik, vervet monkey, and yellow baboon were confirmed infected for the first time. The M. bovis spoligotype isolated from infected wildlife was identical to local livestock, providing evidence for livestock-wildlife pathogen transmission. Thus we advocate an ecosystem-based approach for bovine tuberculosis management that improves critical ecological functions in protected areas and grazing lands, reduces focal population density build-up along the edges of protected areas, and minimizes ecological stressors that increase animals' susceptibility to bovine tuberculosis.

Complex Links between Natural Tuberculosis and Porcine Circovirus Type 2 Infection in Wild Boar

“…While human TB caused by M. tuberculosis has monopolized all the attention, zoonotic TB due to M. bovis has been neglected and now represents an important reemerging public health issue in developing countries [24, 25]. In developed countries, where M. bovis is subjected to disease control measures in cattle, wildlife reservoirs are becoming an increasing concern regarding their role in infection maintenance [26].…”

One Medicine One Science: a framework for exploring challenges at the intersection of animals, humans, and the environment

“…Rudovick Kazwala, a professor in the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health at Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania, and his associates have extensively explored the importance of M. bovis to both animal and human health. In his presentation, Kazwala focused on efforts to untangle the ecology of tuberculosis in pastoralist societies . This involves a multipronged approach aimed at characterizing the contribution of M. bovis in the overall ecology of tuberculosis, understanding the social and political aspects of water availability and water usage rights, assessing the impact of wildlife maintenance hosts and reservoirs, the effects of land‐use policies (both conservation and grazing rights) on wildlife–domestic cattle interactions, and the social and economic aspects of cattle ownership and economics in pastoralist societies.…”

“…It is essential for a successful submission that the grant is relevant, justified, progressive, and clearly demonstrates that the researcher has the expertise necessary to do the research. A detailed discussion was provided on preparing a competitive grant application by (1) having colleagues review the proposal before submission; (2) providing preliminary data to support each of the specific aims; and (3) demonstrating that the research team is integrative, complementary, and has the expertise to carry out the research. For reapplications, it is essential to address reviewer comments and assure that the grant is at least somewhat different and improved over the previous submission.…”

Improving specific disease outcomes through a One Health approach – tuberculosis

“…A literature search of tuberculosis in the One Health context typically yields publications reporting on knowledge gaps and threats of, and risk factors for, human tuberculosis of animal origin (14,54,55,56,57). Despite a fair degree of interdisciplinary collaboration one can notice a strong tendency towards veterinary-led investigations in these papers.…”