An outbreak of tuberculosis by Mycobacterium bovis in coatis (Nasua nasua).

Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, which includes Mycobacterium bovis, infrequently causes severe or lethal disease in captive wildlife populations. A dead coati from a wildlife triage center showing pulmonary lesions compatible with tuberculosis had raised suspicion of a potential disease caused by mycobacteria species and was further investigated. Four native coatis (Nasua nasua) with suspected mycobacterial infection were sedated, and bronchoalveolar lavages and tuberculin skin tests (TSTs) were performed. All animals tested positive upon TST. Mycobacterial culturing, Ziehl-Neelsen staining, and genetic testing were performed on postmortem samples and the etiologic agent was identified as M. bovis. Molecular genetic identification using a polymerase chain reaction panel was crucial to achieving a definitive diagnosis.

Detection of RD(Rio) strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in tapirs (Tapirus terrestris) from a zoo in Brazil.

Tuberculosis is a chronic infection caused by strains of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and occurs in both animal and human populations. The death of a tapir showing purulent material and a hard mass in the lungs at necropsy raised suspicion of a potential disease caused by mycobacteria species in a Brazilian zoo. Later, two other tapirs with similar signs died and were further investigated. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from bronco-alveolar lavages was performed, and both animals tested positive for the RD(Rio) strain of M. tuberculosis, which is a recently discovered Latin American-Mediterranean sublineage and the main cause of human tuberculosis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. To investigate the possibility of human infection and the source of transmission, all 50 zoo employees underwent tuberculin skin testing; four were reactive, but radiographic exams and direct sample staining did not suggest tuberculosis. Thus, direct human to animal transmission was not proven. However, the presence of RD(Rio) M. tuberculosis in tapirs highlights the lack of attention to diseases that human beings may transmit to wildlife.

Tuberculose bovina: saúde animal e saúde pública / Bovine tuberculosis: animal and human health / Tuberculosis bovina: salud animal y salud pública

A tuberculose é uma doença infecto-contagiosa, de abrangência mundial, que afeta seres humanos e outras diversas espécies animais. A principal espécie infectante para os bovinos é o Mycobacterium bovis, o qual é endêmico no Brasil e causa prejuízos econômicos, por redução da produtividade do rebanho e perdas de carcaças no frigorífico. Por se tratar de uma zoonose, nos seres humanos pode causar uma doença clinica e patologicamente indistinguível da infecção por Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Apesar da carência de informações sobre a relevância da tuberculose bovina para os seres humanos, o aumento do número de pacientes imunossuprimidos no país, principalmente pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana, causa preocupação em relação a doenças causadas por espécies atípicas. A espécie M. bovis é transmitida principalmente através da via aerógena para bovinos e através do consumo de leite e derivados crus para pessoas. A imunidade do hospedeiro contra os bacilos da tuberculose envolve uma variedade de eventos celulares, podendo resultar em apresentações clínicas e patologia diferenciada, variando desde infecções autolimitantes até doença sistêmica grave. O diagnóstico em bovinos é realizado principalmente por tuberculinização. Entretanto, é importante realizar a identificação laboratorial da espécie causadora da doença. Embora programas de controle e erradicação tenham sido implantados apenas na última década no país, o controle da tuberculose é fundamental para saúde pública, saúde animal e produção animal.

Tuberculosis is a worldwide infectious disease that affects human beings and several other animal species. The main specie infecting bovine is Mycobacterium bovis, which is endemic in Brazil and causes economic losses due to productivity reduction and losses at the slaughterhouse. Since tuberculosis is a zoonosis, M. bovis may infect human beings, causing a clinically or pathologically disease indistinguishable from M. tuberculosis infection. Despite the lack of information about bovine tuberculosis relevance to human beings, immunosuppressed pacients increasing in the country, mainly due to human immunodeficiency virus, causes concern about diseases caused by atypical species. Mycobacterium bovis specie is mainly transmitted by respiratory route to cattle and by raw milk and other products to human beings. The host immunity against tuberculosis bacillus includes a variety of cellular events, and may result in differentiated clinical and pathology results, ranging from self-limiting infection to severe systemic disease. Bovine diagnosis is mainly by tuberculin skin test, however, differentiate the infecting specie is important. Although control and eradication programs have been implanted only in the last decade in the country, tuberculosis control is essential for both public and animal health.

La tuberculosis es una enfermedad infecto-contagiosa, de distribución mundial, que afecta seres humanos y otras diversas especies animales. La principal especie infecciosa para los bovinos es el Mycobacterium bovis, la cual es endémica en Brasil y causa pérdidas económicas, por reducción de la productividad del rebaño y pérdidas de carcasas en el frigorífico. Además, por ser una zoonosis, en los seres humanos puede causar una enfermedad clínica y patológicamente indistinguible de la infección por M. tuberculosis. A pesar de la falta de información sobre la importancia de la tuberculosis bovina para los seres humanos, el aumento del número de pacientes inmune suprimidos en el país, principalmente por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana, causa preocupación en relación a enfermedades causadas por especies atípicas. La especie M. bovis es transmitida principalmente a través de la vía respiratoria para bovinos y a través del consumo de leche y derivados crudos para personas. La inmunidad del hospedador contra los bacilos de la tuberculosis incluye una variedad de eventos celulares, los cuales pueden resultar en presentaciones clínicas y patología diferenciada, variando desde infecciones autolimitantes hasta enfermedad sistémica grave. El diagnóstico en bovinos se realiza principalmente a través de prueba de la tuberculina. Sin embargo, es importante realizar la identificación en laboratorio de la especie causante de la enfermedad. Aunque programas de control y erradicación hayan sido implementados en la última década en el país, el control de tuberculosis es fundamental para la salud pública, salud animal y producción animal.