Bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis in cattle and African buffalo in the Limpopo National Park, Mozambique

Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) and brucellosis are prevalent in buffaloes of the Kruger National Park (KNP, South Africa). Both diseases were considered to have no or a very low prevalence in wildlife and livestock in and around the Limpopo National Park (LNP, Mozambique). The same applies for tuberculosis in Gonarezhou National Park (GNP, Zimbabwe), but just recently, BTB was detected in buffaloes in the GNP and fears arose that the disease might also spread to the LNP as a result of the partial removal of the fences between the three parks to form the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. To assess the status of both diseases in and around LNP, 62 buffaloes were tested for bovine tuberculosis (BTB) and bovine brucellosis. The percentage of positive BTB reactors in buffalo was 8.06% using BovidTB Stat-Pak and 0% with BOVIGAM IFN-c test and IDEXX ELISA. The brucellosis seroprevalence in buffalo was found to be 17.72% and 27.42% using Rose Bengal Test (RBT) and ELISA, respectively. In addition, 2445 cattle in and around the LNP were examined for BTB using the single intradermal cervical comparative tuberculin test (SICCT), and an apparent prevalence of 0.98% was found with no significant difference inside (0.5%) and outside (1.3%) the park. This is the first published report on the presence of positive reactors to BTB and bovine brucellosis in buffalo and cattle in and outside the LNP. Monitoring the wildlife–livestock–human interface of zoonotic high-impact diseases such as BTB and brucellosis is of outmost importance for the successful implementation and management of any transfrontier park that aims to improve the livelihoods of the local communities.German Research Foundation (DFG).http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1865-16822016-12-31hb2016Veterinary Tropical Disease

Genetic diversity and potential routes of transmission of Mycobacterium bovis in Mozambique

CITATION: Machado, A., et al. 2018. Genetic diversity and potential routes of transmission of Mycobacterium bovis in Mozambique. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 12(1):e0006147, doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0006147.The original publication is available at https://journals.plos.org/plosntdsBovine tuberculosis is a zoonotic disease with largely unknown impact in Africa, with risk factors such as HIV and direct contact with animals or consumption of Mycobacterium bovis infected animal products. In order to understand and quantify this risk and design intervention strategies, good epidemiological studies are needed. Such studies can include molecular typing of M. bovis isolates. The aim of this study was to apply these tools to provide novel information concerning the distribution of bovine tuberculosis in cattle in Mozambique and thereby provide relevant information to guide policy development and strategies to contain the disease in livestock, and reduce the risk associated with transmission to humans. A collection of 178 M. bovis isolates was obtained from cattle in Mozambique. Using spoligotyping and regions of difference analysis, we classified the isolates into clonal complexes, thus reporting the first characterisation of M. bovis strains in this region. Data from MIRU-VNTR typing was used to compare isolates from a number of African countries, revealing a deeply geographically structured diversity of M. bovis. Eastern Africa appears to show high diversity, suggesting deep evolution in that region. The diversity of M. bovis in Africa does not seem to be a function of recent importation of animals, but is probably maintained within each particular region by constant reinfection from reservoir animals. Understanding the transmission routes of M. bovis in Mozambique and elsewhere is essential in order to focus public health and veterinary resources to contain bovine tuberculosis.https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0006147Publisher's versio

Clonal complexes and singletons identified in <i>Mycobacterium bovis</i> strains from Mozambique.

<p><b>A. Results obtained from the calculation of the minimum spanning tree based on spoligotyping results.</b> In red a “BCG-like” spoligotype, in orange the “BCG-like derived” spoligotypes, in green the Af1 spoligotype and in blue the Eu1 spoligotypes. Singleton 1 corresponds to spoligopattern SB0140, singleton 2 to SB1272, singleton 3 to SB2311; singleton 4 to SB2304; complex 1 to SB0120, SB0961, SB1099, SB2307 and SB2309; complex 2 to SB2305 and SB2306; complex 3 to SB2308 and SB2310; complex 4 to SB0290 and SB2124. <b>B. Distribution of clonal complexes and singletons identified per province.</b> Pie charts represent the frequencies of the complex and singletons in the sampled provinces: Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala and Tete. The map of Mozambique was created specifically for the manuscript using the licensed software ArcView—ESRI ArcMap 10.0 (Build 2414).</p

Median joining network of the diversity of <i>Mycobacterium bovis</i> in Africa based on the 43 spoligotype spacers and 5 VNTRs.

<p>Samples were coloured according to their geography. Figure was made using freely available phylogenetic software network (<a href="http://www.fluxus-engineering.com/" target="_blank">http://www.fluxus-engineering.com</a>.</p

Sources of <i>Mycobacterium bovis</i> isolates.

<p>Sources of <i>Mycobacterium bovis</i> isolates.</p

Dendogram displaying the MIRU-24 loci VNTR profiles of the 59 <i>Mycobacterium bovis</i> isolates evaluated.

<p>The figure indicates the sample code; the source of the samples (Xx00000 –province, 00Xx000 –district, 0000Xx–type of farm and 000000X –the farm: Mp–Maputo, Gz–Gaza, Ih–Inhambane, Sf- Sofala, Mn–Manica, Np–Nampula, Ni–Niassa; Bo–Boane, Mt–Matutuine, Mh–Manhiça, Mg–Magude, Mc–Macia, Zv–Zavala, Mb–Morrumbene, Pa–Panda, Gv–Govuro; Ma—Machanga, Bz–Buzi; Gd–Gondola, Mn–Manica, Ag–Angoche, Cu–Cumba; Cm–comercial, Ss–small-scale, NI—Not identified, X–Not known); the spoligopatterns; the multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) identified with the designation numbers obtained using the site <a href="http://www.MIRU-VNTRplus.org" target="_blank">http://www.MIRU-VNTRplus.org</a>; and the MIRU-VNTR 24 loci code profiles.</p

Feasibility of a randomized clinical trial evaluating a community intervention for household tuberculosis child contact management in Cameroon and Uganda

Background: One of the main barriers of the management of household tuberculosis child contacts is the necessity for parents to bring healthy children to the facility. We assessed the feasibility of a community intervention for tuberculosis (TB) household child contact management and the conditions for its evaluation in a cluster randomized controlled trial in Cameroon and Uganda.Methods: We assessed three dimensions of feasibility using a mixed method approach: (1) recruitment capability using retrospective aggregated data from facility registers; (2) acceptability of the intervention using focus group discussions with TB patients and in-depth interviews with healthcare providers and community leaders; and (3) adaptation, integration, and resources of the intervention in existing TB services using a survey and discussions with stakeholders.Results: Reaching the sample size is feasible in all clusters in 15 months with the condition of regrouping 2 facilities in the same cluster in Uganda due to decentralization of TB services. Community health worker (CHW) selection and training and simplified tools for contact screening, tolerability, and adherence of preventive therapy were key elements for the implementation of the community intervention. Healthcare providers and patients found the intervention of child contact investigations and TB preventive treatment management in the household acceptable in both countries due to its benefits (competing priorities, transport cost) as compared to facility-based management. TB stigma was present, but not a barrier for the community intervention. Visit schedule and team conduct were identified as key facilitators for the intervention.Conclusions: This study shows that evaluating a community intervention for TB child contact management in a cluster randomized trial is feasible in Cameroon and Uganda.Trial registration: Clini calTr ials. gov NCT03832023 . Registered on February 6th 2019