Popis: |
Background: Tuberculosis is one of the most important infectious diseases of humans and cattle in Africa. This study aimed at reporting a transmission of zoonotic Mycobacterium africanum between human and cattle. Methods: A bull was tested positive for Mycobacterium infection based on single caudal fold intradermal tuberculin test, but showed no gross TB pathological lesions after post-mortem meat inspection. The cattle rearer was also diagnosed with active pulmonary TB in a hospital. The cattle rearer’s sputum and the bull’s bronchial, retropharyngeal and mediasternal lymph nodes were obtained, processed and cultured, where tubercle bacilli was isolated. The isolates were subjected to SD Bioline TB Ag MPT64 as well as Genotype MTBC. Results: Both the rearer’s sputum as well as the bull’s lymph nodes yielded Mycobacterium africanum which is primarily a human pathogen and has rarely been isolated from cattle. Based on our knowledge, this is a first case of possible human to cattle transmission of Mycobacterium africanum in the study area. Conclusions: The isolation and identification of M. africanum species from both human and cattle is of epidemiological and public health importance especially to abattoir workers and cattle rearers. An animal attendant with active pulmonary TB may represent an important source of the disease for animals, spreading the bacilli via sputum, urine or faeces. The report highlight the importance of M. africanum and it zoonotic public health implications between humans and cattle transmission. Measures for control should be instituted. |