A case of bovine tuberculosis in pigs in Poland – a country free from the disease

Introduction Bovine tuberculosis is a chronic contagious disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis or Mycobacterium caprae. Before widespread action conducted in Poland between 1959–1975 to combat bovine tuberculosis (BTB), about 40% of all tuberculosis cases in pigs was caused by the bovine bacillus. At the present time, correctly carried out, long-term control of cattle has resulted in cases of bovine tuberculosis in pigs and humans being extremely rare and sporadic. In pigs, tuberculosis is most often caught in a slaughterhouse during slaughter. Material and methods Samples came from pigs kept on the farm. Traditional bacteriological methods on solid media (Stonebrink, LJ with pyruvate) supported by the semi-automatic, liquid indicative culture method (MGIT) and PCR test were applied in targeted studies. The GenoType Mycobacterium MTBC and CM tests (Hain Lifescience, Germany) were used to additionally confirm that isolated strains classification was used. Results Strains of mycobacteria were isolated from all examined pigs. Mycobacterium bovis was determined by real time PCR and Hain Genotype methods. Conclusions In order to effectively fight against BTB, all animals on farms should be tested, regardless of species, while the milk of suspected cows should be utilized without being used for feed. It is important to adapt the current legal regulations to the current epidemiological situation

Infection of a Free-Living Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) with a Bacterium from the Mycobacterium kansasii Complex

The most numerous group of bacteria in the genus Mycobacterium is the nontuberculous mycobacteria. Currently, over 200 species of bacteria have been classified as belonging to this group, of which approximately 30 are pathogenic to humans and animals. Mycobacterium kansasii complex numbers among these pathogenic species. The submandibular lymph nodes of a wild boar shot by a hunter were examined in order to confirm or exclude infection with bacteria of the genus Mycobacterium. In culture, a bacterial isolate was obtained after 12 days of incubation on Petragnani and Stonebrink media. A multiplex PCR clearly indicated that the isolate was a nontuberculous mycobacterium. The results of species identification attempts via both molecular biology methods and mass spectrometry confirmed that the isolated strain belonged to MKC. The described case of a wild boar infection with MKC is the first documented case in Poland and only the second in Europe, and in confirming the presence of this pathogen among free-living animals, this report implies that MKC is of great concern. Our research elucidates some specifics of wild boar mycobacteriosis and may be used to instill awareness in the public of the dangers of dressing hunt prey or consuming its meat in ignorance of safe procedures, which can contribute to the transmission of the pathogen to humans

Infection of a Free-Living Wild Boar (<i>Sus scrofa</i>) with a Bacterium from the <i>Mycobacterium kansasii</i> Complex

The most numerous group of bacteria in the genus Mycobacterium is the nontuberculous mycobacteria. Currently, over 200 species of bacteria have been classified as belonging to this group, of which approximately 30 are pathogenic to humans and animals. Mycobacterium kansasii complex numbers among these pathogenic species. The submandibular lymph nodes of a wild boar shot by a hunter were examined in order to confirm or exclude infection with bacteria of the genus Mycobacterium. In culture, a bacterial isolate was obtained after 12 days of incubation on Petragnani and Stonebrink media. A multiplex PCR clearly indicated that the isolate was a nontuberculous mycobacterium. The results of species identification attempts via both molecular biology methods and mass spectrometry confirmed that the isolated strain belonged to MKC. The described case of a wild boar infection with MKC is the first documented case in Poland and only the second in Europe, and in confirming the presence of this pathogen among free-living animals, this report implies that MKC is of great concern. Our research elucidates some specifics of wild boar mycobacteriosis and may be used to instill awareness in the public of the dangers of dressing hunt prey or consuming its meat in ignorance of safe procedures, which can contribute to the transmission of the pathogen to humans

Genetic lineages of Salmonella enterica serovar Kentucky spreading in pet reptiles

International audienceThe purpose of the study was to define genetic diversity of reptilian Salmonella entericaserovar (S.) Kentucky isolates and their epidemiological relations to the ones from poultry,food, and environmental origin in Poland. Between 2010 and 2012 twenty-four S.Kentucky isolates derived from snakes (N = 8), geckos (N = 7), chameleons (N = 4), agamas(N = 1), lizard (N = 1), and environmental swabs taken from reptile exhibition (N = 3) wereidentified. They were characterized with antimicrobial minimal inhibitory concentrationtesting, XbaI–PFGE and MLST typing. The profiles compared to S. Kentucky available inBioNumerics local laboratory database (N = 40) showed 67.3% of relatedness among reptileisolates. Three genetic lineages were defined. The first lineage gathered 20 reptile isolateswith 83.4% of similarity and wild-type MICs for all antimicrobials tested but streptomycinin single case. The remaining three reptilian and one post-exhibition environment S.Kentucky isolates were clustered (87.2%) with isolates originating from poultry, mainlyturkey, food, and environment and presented variable non-wild type MICs to numerousantimicrobials. The third S. Kentucky lineage was composed of two isolates from feed(96.3%). The results suggest diverse sources and independent routes of infection. Most ofthe isolates belonged to reptile-associated clones spread both horizontally and vertically.Simultaneously, PFGE profiles and MLST type indistinguishable from the ones observed inpoultry point out carnivore reptiles as possible vector of infection with multidrug andhigh-level ciprofloxacin resistant (MIC 8 mg/L) S. Kentucky. Public awareness andeducation are required to prevent potential reptile-associated S. Kentucky infections inhumans

Treatment for active tuberculosis in giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) in a Zoo and potential consequences for public health – Case report

Introduction Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an infectious disease that occurs in many species of both domestic and free-ranging animals, as well as animals kept in zoos. According to the Polish regulations, cattle tuberculosis are slaughtered and microbiological examinations are performed, the rest of animal species can be treated and laboratory diagnostics are not obligatory. Case report The presented case concerns two male giraffes which were purchased by the zoo and united with a third male. After a year, the oldest male died. Post mortem examinations confirmed generalized tuberculosis. After a further six months, the second male was euthanized after suffering great pain. The material for the study of drug resistance was a swab from the nose, obtained ante mortem from the third male. Attempted treatments did not produce the expected results. Genotyping allowed the exclusion of a common source of transmission. Conclusions The final effect of the anti-tuberculosis therapy in the male giraffe raises the question whether the research team should have undertaken the treatment of the animal with active tuberculosis

Evaluation of susceptibility to antimycobacterial drugs in Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains isolated from cattle in Poland

Introduction: Tuberculosis is a highly infectious disease affecting humans and animals. It is caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) – Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium caprae, which are aetiological factors of bovine tuberculosis (bTB). In Poland, the bTB eradication programme exists. Animals diagnosed with tuberculosis are in the majority of cases not treated, but removed from their herd and then sanitary slaughtered

Analiza oporności na leki przeciwprątkowe wśród szczepów MTBC izolowanych od bydła w Polsce jako zagrożenie dla zdrowia ludzi

Background. Tuberculosis is a highly contagious disease affecting humans and animals. It is caused by mycobacteria that are part of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC). The etiological agent causing bovine tuberculosis is mycobacteria bovis: Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium caprae. According to the World Health Organization bovine tuberculosis is classified as direct zoonosis. Material and methods. T he s tudy m aterial c onsisted o f 1 29 M TBC s trains i solated f rom Polish cattle, which were microbiologically analyzed. The resistance phenotype was tested for first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs used in the treatment of tuberculosis in humans. The drugs included streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide. The MTBC strains tested in this study were isolated from cattle tissue post mortem so that the determination of drug resistance could meet only the epidemiological criterion. Results. Polish strains of mycobacteria bovis have not acquired environmental resistance despite the huge dynamics of changes in the phenotype of mycobacterial tuberculosis resistance. Strains classified as M. bovis are characterized by natural resistance to PZA, which is typical of this species. Conclusions. Drug resistance imposes the use of additional drugs. Drugs that are less effective than the basic drugs, drugs causing side effects more frequently and drugs that are much more expensive.Wprowadzenie. Gruźlica jest wysoce zakaźną chorobą ludzi i zwierząt, którą powodują prątki wchodzące w skład kompleksu Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTBC). Czynnikiem etiologicznym gruźlicy bydlęcej są prątki bydlęce: Mycobacterium bovis i Mycobacterium caprae. Zgodnie z klasyfikacją Światowej Organizacji Zdrowia, gruźlica typu bydlęcego zaliczana jest do zoonoz bezpośrednich. Materiał i metody. W pracy poddano analizie mikrobiologicznej 129 szczepów MTBC wyizolowanych od bydła w Polsce. Fenotyp oporności zbadano pod kątem leków przeciwprątkowych pierwszej linii stosowanych w leczeniu gruźlicy u ludzi: streptomycyny, izoniazydu, rifampicyny, etambutolu i pyrazynamidu. Szczepy MTBC badane w niniejszej pracy wyizolowano z tkanek bydła pobranych post mortem, tak że oznaczenie lekooporności w tym zadaniu spełniło jedynie kryterium epidemiologiczne. Wyniki. Polskie szczepy prątka bydlęcego nie nabyły oporności środowiskowej. Szczepy sklasyfikowane jako M. bovis cechują się charakterystyczną dla tego gatunku naturalną opornością na PZA. Wnioski. Wystąpienie lekooporności zmusza do stosowania leków dodatkowych, mniej skutecznych niż leki podstawowe i powodujących częściej objawy uboczne, a jednocześnie znacznie droższych

Ocena epizootyczna zakażeń Mycobacterium avium spp. paratuberculosis u bydła w Polsce w latach 2011-2020 jako potencjalny czynnik etiologiczny choroby Leśniowskiego-Crohna u ludzi

Background. Mycobacterium avium spp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is a bacterial germ and the etiologic agent in paratuberculosis also known as Johne's disease, a debilitating disease seen in animals. MAP is one of the triggers in the development of Crohn's disease in humans. Therefore the presence of these microorganisms in the environment and their prevalence in farm animals in relation to Crohn's disease is a new area of research. To date, it has not been evaluated in Poland. Material and methods. The materials for this study consisted of 14,468 samples of bovine serum across Poland. Determination of anti-MAP antibody levels was performed using an immunoenzymatic Paratuberculosis Screening Ab Test p/n P07130-5® (IDEXX, Westbrook, Maine 04092, United States). Results. The study consisted of 14,468 samples of bovine serum. Anti-MAP antibodies were identified in 349 cattle sera. Conclusions. Successful paratuberculosis screening programs can lead to a reduction of MAP in animal products. As the role of MAP in Crohn’s disease is not fully understood, future research should be conducted to address this knowledge gap and avoid a potential zoonotic public health problem.Wprowadzenie. Mycobacterium avium spp. paratuberculosis (MAP) zwany także prątkiem Johnego jest czynnikiem etiologicznym paratuberkulozy, wyniszczającej choroby występującej u zwierząt. Jednym z czynników niezbędnych do rozwoju choroby Crohna u ludzi jest obecność MAP, stąd też obecność w środowisku tych drobnoustrojów, a przede wszystkim ocena ich występowania u zwierząt gospodarskich w odniesieniu do choroby Crohna, stanowi nowy obszar badań, nieopisany dotąd w Polsce. Materiał i metody. Materiał do badań stanowiło 14468 bydlęcych surowic pochodzących z terenu całej Polski. Oznaczenie poziomu przeciwciał anty-MAP wykonano przy użyciu immunoenzymatycznego testu Paratuberculosis Screening Ab Test p/n P07130-5® (IDEXX, Westbrook, Maine 04092, United States). Wyniki. W badanej grupie 14468 surowic, przeciwciała anty-MAP potwierdzono u 349 sztuk bydła. Wnioski. Udane programy kontroli paratuberkulozy mogą prowadzić do zmniejszenia występowania MAP w produktach zwierzęcego pochodzenia. W związku z tym, że rola MAP nie jest do końca poznana w chorobie Crohna, przyszłe badania powinny zająć się tymi lukami, aby uniknąć potencjalnego odzwierzęcego problemu zdrowia publicznego