Malama Sydney, Muma John, Munyeme Musso, Mbulo Grace, Muwonge Adrian, Shamputa Isdore Chola, Djønne Berit, Godfroid Jacques, Johansen Tone Bjordal
Institute of Economic and Social Research, University of Zambia, P.O. Box 30900, Munali Road, Lusaka, Zambia,
Ecohealth. 2014 Dec;11(4):564-70. doi: 10.1007/s10393-014-0940-0. Epub 2014 May 21.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis in humans, is considered primarily a human pathogen. It has, however, been reported in a wide range of domestic and wild animals, often living in close prolonged contact with humans. Sputum samples in which acid fast bacteria were detected in smears were collected from patients at three health facilities in Namwala district, Zambia. Samples from cattle presenting gross lesions compatible with bovine tuberculosis were collected at a local abattoir in the same district. Isolated mycobacteria were identified and genotyped using classical molecular methods. From a total of 33 isolates of M. tuberculosis detected (30 from humans and 3 from cattle), two cattle isolates shared the same spoligotype and MIRU-VNTR pattern with a human patient. This study has for the first time documented the isolation of M. tuberculosis from cattle in Zambia and provides molecular evidence of an epidemiological link between M. tuberculosis isolates from humans and cattle in Namwala district. A possible spill back of M. tuberculosis to humans cannot be excluded and therefore further studies documenting to what extent M. tuberculosis is shed in cattle milk are needed. This finding further suggests that veterinary public health measures to control human TB, should also take into account the bovine reservoir.
结核分枝杆菌是人类结核病的病原体，主要被视为人类病原菌。然而，在多种家养和野生动物中都有其报道，这些动物常常与人类长期密切接触。在赞比亚纳姆瓦拉区的三个卫生机构，从涂片检测出抗酸菌的患者那里收集了痰液样本。在同一区的一个当地屠宰场，采集了出现与牛结核病相符的肉眼可见病变的牛的样本。使用经典分子方法对分离出的分枝杆菌进行鉴定和基因分型。在总共检测出的33株结核分枝杆菌分离株中（30株来自人类，3株来自牛），有两株牛分离株与一名人类患者具有相同的间隔寡核苷酸分型（spoligotype）和多位点可变数目串联重复序列分析（MIRU-VNTR）模式。本研究首次记录了在赞比亚从牛身上分离出结核分枝杆菌，并提供了纳姆瓦拉区人类和牛的结核分枝杆菌分离株之间存在流行病学联系的分子证据。不能排除结核分枝杆菌可能回传给人类的情况，因此需要进一步研究记录结核分枝杆菌在牛奶中的排出程度。这一发现进一步表明，控制人类结核病的兽医公共卫生措施也应考虑牛这个储存宿主。
