Burthe S, Bennett M, Kipar A, Lambin X, Smith A, Telfer S, Begon M
School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK.
Parasitology. 2008 Mar;135(3):309-17. doi: 10.1017/S0031182007003940. Epub 2007 Nov 16.
Vole tuberculosis (TB; Mycobacterium microti) is an understudied endemic infection. Despite progressing slowly, it causes severe clinical pathology and overt symptoms in its rodent host. TB was monitored for 2 years in wild field voles in Kielder Forest, UK. The prevalence of characteristic cutaneous TB lesions was monitored longitudinally at 4 sites, with individuals live-trapped and repeatedly monitored. A prevalence of 5.2% of individuals with lesions was recorded (n=2791). In a cross-sectional study, 27 sites were monitored bi-annually, with TB assessed by post-mortem examination for macroscopic lesions, and by culture and histopathology. Seventy-nine voles (10.78%; n=733) were positive for mycobacteria, with the highest prevalence in spring (13.15%; n=327). TB prevalence varied, with between 0% and 50% of voles infected per site. Prevalence increased with age (mass), and apparent seasonality was due to a higher proportion of older animals in spring. Survival analysis supported this result, with cutaneous lesions only manifesting in the advanced stages of infection, and therefore only being found on older voles. The body condition of individuals with lesions declined at the time when the lesion was first recorded, when compared to individuals without lesions, suggesting there may be an acute phase of infection during its advanced stage. Although predicted survival following the appearance of a cutaneous lesion was lower than for uninfected individuals, this was not significant.
田鼠结核病（TB；微小分枝杆菌）是一种研究较少的地方性感染。尽管其发展缓慢，但会在啮齿动物宿主中引起严重的临床病理和明显症状。在英国基尔德森林的野生田鼠中对结核病进行了为期2年的监测。在4个地点纵向监测特征性皮肤结核病变的患病率，对个体进行活体诱捕并反复监测。记录到有病变个体的患病率为5.2%（n = 2791）。在一项横断面研究中，每半年对27个地点进行监测，通过尸检评估结核病的宏观病变，并通过培养和组织病理学进行评估。79只田鼠（10.78%；n = 733）的分枝杆菌检测呈阳性，春季患病率最高（13.15%；n = 327）。结核病患病率各不相同，每个地点感染田鼠的比例在0%至50%之间。患病率随年龄（体重）增加而上升，明显的季节性是由于春季老年动物的比例较高。生存分析支持了这一结果，皮肤病变仅在感染后期出现，因此仅在老年田鼠身上发现。与无病变个体相比，首次记录到病变时，有病变个体的身体状况下降，这表明在感染后期可能存在急性期。尽管出现皮肤病变后的预测生存率低于未感染个体，但差异不显著。
