Dwyer Rebecca A, Witte Carmel, Buss Peter, Goosen Wynand J, Miller Michele
Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Science and Innovation - National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, South African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
Disease Investigations, San Diego Zoo Global, San Diego, CA, United States.
Front Vet Sci. 2020 Nov 4;7:580476. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.580476. eCollection 2020.
Cases of tuberculosis (TB) resulting from infection with complex (MTBC) have been recorded in captive white () and black () rhinoceros. More recently, cases have been documented in free-ranging populations of both species in bovine tuberculosis (bTB) endemic areas of South Africa. There is limited information on risk factors and transmission patterns for MTBC infections in African rhinoceros, however, extrapolation from literature on MTBC infections in other species and multi-host systems provides a foundation for understanding TB epidemiology in rhinoceros species. Current diagnostic tests include blood-based immunoassays but distinguishing between subclinical and active infections remains challenging due to the lack of diagnostic techniques. In other species, demographic risk factors for MTBC infection include sex and age, where males and adults are generally at higher risk than females and younger individuals. Limited available historical information reflects similar age- and sex-associated patterns for TB in captive black and white rhinoceros, with more reports of MTBC-associated disease in black rhinoceros than in white rhinoceros. The degree of MTBC exposure in susceptible wildlife depends on their level of interaction, either directly with other infected individuals or indirectly through MTBC contaminated environments, which is dependent on the presence and abundance of infected reservoir hosts and the amount of MTBC shed in their excreta. Captive African rhinoceros have shown evidence of MTBC shedding, and although infection levels are low in free-ranging rhinoceros, there is a risk for intraspecies transmission. Free-ranging rhinoceros in bTB endemic areas may be exposed to MTBC from other infected host species, such as the African buffalo () and greater kudu (), through shared environmental niches, and resource co-utilization. This review describes current knowledge and information gaps regarding the epidemiology of TB in African rhinoceros.
圈养的白犀牛和黑犀牛中已记录到由结核分枝杆菌复合群（MTBC）感染导致的结核病病例。最近，在南非牛结核病（bTB）流行地区的这两个物种的野生种群中也记录到了病例。关于非洲犀牛MTBC感染的风险因素和传播模式的信息有限，然而，从其他物种和多宿主系统中MTBC感染的文献推断为了解犀牛物种的结核病流行病学提供了基础。目前的诊断测试包括基于血液的免疫测定，但由于缺乏诊断技术，区分亚临床感染和活动性感染仍然具有挑战性。在其他物种中，MTBC感染的人口统计学风险因素包括性别和年龄，通常雄性和成年个体比雌性和年轻个体感染风险更高。有限的现有历史信息反映了圈养黑犀牛和白犀牛中结核病的年龄和性别相关模式相似，黑犀牛中与MTBC相关疾病的报告比白犀牛更多。易感野生动物中MTBC的暴露程度取决于它们的相互作用水平，要么直接与其他受感染个体接触，要么通过MTBC污染的环境间接接触，这取决于受感染储存宿主的存在和数量以及它们排泄物中MTBC的排放量。圈养的非洲犀牛已显示出MTBC排放的证据，尽管野生犀牛的感染水平较低，但存在种内传播的风险。bTB流行地区的野生犀牛可能通过共享环境生态位和资源共同利用，从其他受感染宿主物种，如非洲水牛和大林羚，接触到MTBC。本综述描述了关于非洲犀牛结核病流行病学的当前知识和信息空白。
