A study of bovine strains of mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from humans in South-East England, 1977–1979

doi:10.1016/0041-3879(81)90018-0

Tubercle

Volume 62, Issue 2, June 1981, Pages 113-116

Tubercle

https://doi.org/10.1016/0041-3879(81)90018-0 Get rights and content

Abstract

Bovine strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were isolated from 137 of 5021 cases of tuberculosis (2.7 %) occurring in South East England during the years 1977 to 1979. These were divisible into ‘classical’ and ‘Afro-Asian’ bovine strains according to their susceptibility to pyrazinamide. Classical strains were the predominant type among the Europeans and Afro-Asian types were commoner in immigrants. Bovine strains caused a high incidence of extrapulmonary disease in both ethnic groups and there was a significant relationship between renal disease and ‘classical’ strains. The age and sex distributions of bovine strains were similar to those of human strains in both ethnic groups. It was considered that these bovine strains were transmitted from human to human by the pulmonary route.

Résumé

Au cours des années 1977 à 1979, on a isolé des souches bovines de Mycobacterium tuberculosis à partir de 137 parmi les 5021 cas de tuberculose (2,7 %) apparus dans le sud-est de I'Angleterre. En se basant sur leur sensibilité au pyrazinamide, on a pu les répartir en souches bovines ‘classiques’ et souches bovines ‘afro-asiatiques’. Les souches classiques représentaient le type prédominant parmi les Européens et le type ‘afro-asiatique’ était plus fréquent parmi les immigrants. Les souches bovines ont entraîné l'apparition fréquente de formes extrapulmonaires dans les deux groupes ethniques et il existait une liaison significative entre tuberculose rénale et souches ‘classiques’. Les répartitions par âge et sexe des souches bovines étaient similaires à celles des souches humaines, dans les deux groupes ethniques. On a estimé que ces souches bovines avaient été transmises de l'homme à l'homme, par voie pulmonaire.

Zusammenfassung

Durante los años 1977 a 1979, se aislaron cepas bovinas de Mycobacterium tuberculosis en 137 de un total de 5021 casos de tuberculosis (2,7 %) observados en el sud-este de Inglaterra. Según su susceptibilidad a la pirazinamida, estas cepas fueron repartidas en cepas bovinas ‘sclásicas’ y ‘afro-asiáticas’. Las primeras representan el tipo predominante entre los Europeos y las últimas fueron encontradas con mayor frecuencia entre los inmigrantes. Las cepas bovinas causaron una proporción elevada de enfermedad extrapulmonar en ambos grupos étnicos y hubo una correlación significativa entre tuberculosis renal y cepas ‘clásicas’. Las reparticiones por sexo y edad de las cepas bovinas fueron similares a las de las cepas humanas en los dos grupos étnicos. Se consideró que estas cepas bovinas fueron transmitidas de hombre a hombre por via respiratoria.

References (8)

J.M. Grange et al.
Bacteriophage typing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated in South East England
Tubercle
(1976)
J.M. Grange et al.
Comparison of strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from British, Ugandan and Asian immigrant patients: a study in bacteriophage typing, susceptibility to hydrogen peroxide and sensitivity to thiophen-2-carboxylic acid hydrazide
Tubercle
(1977)
A.G. Karlson et al.
Mycobacterium bovis nom. nov
International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology
(1970)
M.D. Yates et al.
Identitication of tubercle bacilli
Annales de Microbiologie
(1979)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (33)

Association of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolates of BOVIS and Central Asian (CAS) genotypic lineages with extrapulmonary disease
2009, Clinical Microbiology and Infection
Citation Excerpt :
Studies in animals support the possibility of an enhanced ability of M. bovis, over M. tuberculosis, to cause extrapulmonary disease [19]. However, it must be considered that the high proportion of extrapulmonary localization of BOVIS TB, reported in the present article and in the other studies mentioned above [16–18], may not necessarily reflect the propensity of strains of the BOVIS lineage to disseminate, but rather the different route of exposure to these organisms, which usually involves contaminated food (especially milk) or direct contact with infected animals. There are no reports, to our knowledge, that have associated the CAS genotypic lineage with extrapulmonary TB, although a number of reports from western countries have linked extrapulmonary localization to the geographical origin and/or the immigrant status of patients.
The association between isolate genotype, defined as in the international spoligotype database SpolDB4, and extrapulmonary tuberculosis was determined among 1009 patients in a population-based, 4-year survey performed in Tuscany, Italy. Extrapulmonary disease occurred in 24.2% of patients. A statistically significant association with extrapulmonary disease was found for the BOVIS (adjusted OR 3.2; 95% CI 1.2–8.1) and for the Central Asian (CAS) lineages (adjusted OR 2.3; 95% CI 1.0–5.1). These findings support the view that Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains within individual genotypic lineages might have evolved unique pathogenic characteristics that are capable of influencing the clinical outcome of the infection.
The importance of Mycobacterium bovis as a zoonosis
2006, Veterinary Microbiology
Mycobacterium bovis and closely associated acid-fast bacilli cause disease in humans. Epidemiologic investigations reveal that the organism may be ingested or inhaled. Extra pulmonary lesions may occur associated to the consumption of infected milk, even though with the practice of boiling milk, and the growth of milk pasteurization plants all over the world, the digestive route of infection became less important. On the other hand, airborne infection continues to occur among meat industry and slaughterhouse workers, in regions where the infection is still prevalent in cattle. Evidence of person to person transmission is rare. Main causes of concern related to M. bovis in industrialized countries are: epizootics in domesticated and wild mammals and latent infection in immigrants. Although multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of M. bovis have been identified, case reports reveal that anti-tuberculosis drugs routinely used to treat Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected patients are effective when properly administered.
Spoligotyping and pncA polymorphisme: A two step scenario for Mycobacterium bovis diagnosis in Portugal
2005, Revista Portuguesa de Pneumologia
O diagnóstico diferencial do Mycobacterium bovis é importante no controlo da transmissão para a população humana e também no tratamento da doença, visto que o M. bovis é naturalmente resistente à pirazinamida. Foram analisados onze isolados clínicos do Hospital Fernando Fonseca, com um padrão de Spoligotype indicativo de M. bovis pela ausência dos espaçadores 39-43, mas que também contaram com a ausência do espaçador 38. Para a identificação destas estirpes procedeu-se à análise fenotípica da resistência à pirazinamida e estudo dos polimorfismos dos genes pncA e gyrB. Pelo estudo do polimorfismo do pncA, verificámos que as estirpes analisadas não continham a mutação específica do M. bovis. Em relação aos polimorfismos do gyrB, utilizando o kit GenoType® MTBC, as estirpes foram identificadas como pertencentes ao grupo M. tuberculosis, M. africanum subtipo II e M. canetti. O presente trabalho de investigação permitiu-nos definir novos genótipos sobre os quais deverão apoiar-se estudos bacteriológicos futuros. Entre estes foi desde já considerado importante o estudo do polimorfismo do gene pncA, devido às implicações de utilidade prática e imediata para o clínico. Avaliar a transmissão e definir grupos de risco é um objectivo para o qual se considera importante o apoio dos serviços veterinários.
Rev Port Pneumol 2005; XI (6): 533-556
The differential diagnosis of Mycobacterium bovis is important in the control of transmission to the human population and also for treatment since M. bovis is naturally resistant to pyrazinamide. Eleven clinical isolates from the Fernando Fonseca Hospital with Spoligotypes indicative of M. bovis, through the absence of spacers 39-43 but that also counted with the absence of spacer 38, were analyzed. For the identification of these strains, the phenotypic analysis of pyrazinamide resistance and study of the polymorphisms of the pncA and gyrB genes were carried out. The study of the pncA polymorphism revealed that the strains analyzed did not contain the M. bovis specific mutation. In relation the gyrB polymorphisms, using the GenoType® MTBC kit, the strains were identified as belonging to the group M. tuberculosis, M. africanum subtipo II e M. canetti. The present investigation enabled us to define new genotypes on which future bacteriological studies should be based. Amongst these the study of the pncA polymorphism was considered important due to the immediate practical implications for the clinician. Evaluating transmission and defining groups of risk is an objective for which support from the veterinary services is considered relevant.
Rev Port Pneumol 2005; XI (6): 533-556
Pericarditis as primary manifestation of Mycobacterium bovis ssp. caprae infection
2003, Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease
A 76-year-old white male presented with progressive malaise, weight loss and dyspnea at rest. Echocardiography revealed a circular pericardial effusion and global hypokinesia. Pericardiocentesis showed a purulent exudate and microbiologic examination revealed Mycobacterium bovis fully sensitive to isoniazid, streptomycin, ethambutol, rifampin, and pyrazinamide. By spoligotyping the isolate could be further differentiated to M. bovis ssp. caprae. Antimycobacterial therapy was initiated but 3 weeks later the patient’s circulation and renal function deteriorated and he died with clinical signs of sepsis despite intensive care treatment.
Pericarditis is a rare manifestation of tuberculosis and can be fatal even when diagnosed and treated appropriately. In low incidence countries diagnosis is often delayed and even overlooked.
A multiplex polymerase chain reaction for distinguishing Mycobacterium tuberculosis from Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex
1995, Molecular and Cellular Probes
A multiplex polymerase chain reaction has bee developed which is able to distinguish Mycobacterium tuberculosis from other members of the M. tuberculosis complex. The assay is based on the simultaneous amplification of two different targets: a 396bp region from the mtp40 species-specific gene sequence of M. tuberculosis and a 245bp fragment from the M. tuberculosis complex insertion sequence IS986. Results have been obtained for 54 mycobacterial strains including five non-M. tuberculosis complex isolates. All 49 strains of the M. tuberculosis complex were positive for IS986 but only the 27 M. tuberculosis isolates were positive for both IS986 and mtp40.
The epidemiology of Mycobacterium bovis infections in animals and man: A review
1995, Tubercle and Lung Disease
Tuberculosis is primarily a respiratory disease and transmission of infection within and between species is mainly by the airborne route. Mycobacterium bovis, the cause of bovine-type tuberculosis, has an exceptionally wide host range. Susceptible species include cattle, humans, non-human primates, goats, cats, dogs, pigs, buffalo, badgers, possums, deer and bison. Many susceptible species, including man, are spillover hosts in which infection is not self-maintaining. In countries where there is transmission of infection from endemically infected wildlife populations to cattle or other farmed animals, eradication is not feasible and control measures must be applied indefinitely. Possible methods of limiting spread of infection from wildlife to cattle including the use of vaccines are outlined. The usefulness of DNA fingerprinting of M. bovis strains as an epidemiological tool and of BCG vaccination of humans and cattle as a control measure are reviewed.
The factors determining susceptibility to infection and clinical disease, and the infectiousness of infected hosts and transmission of infection, are detailed. Reports of the epidemiology of M. bovis infections in man and a variety of animal species are reviewed. M. bovis infection was recognised as a major public health problem when this organism was transmitted to man via milk from infected cows. The introduction of pasteurization helped eliminate this problem. Those occupational groups working with M. bovis infected cattle or deer, on the farm or in the slaughter house, are more likely to develop pulmonary disease than alimentary disease. In recent years, tuberculosis in farmed cervidae has become a disease of economic as well as public health importance in several countries. Nowadays, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is associated with a greatly increased risk of overt disease in humans infected with Myobacterium tuberculosis. It is believed this increased risk also occurs in the case of M. bovis infections in humans.

View all citing articles on Scopus

View full text

Article preview

Tubercle

Abstract

Résumé

Zusammenfassung

References (8)

Bacteriophage typing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated in South East England

Tubercle

Comparison of strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from British, Ugandan and Asian immigrant patients: a study in bacteriophage typing, susceptibility to hydrogen peroxide and sensitivity to thiophen-2-carboxylic acid hydrazide

Tubercle

Mycobacterium bovis nom. nov

International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology

Identitication of tubercle bacilli

Annales de Microbiologie

Cited by (33)

Association of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolates of BOVIS and Central Asian (CAS) genotypic lineages with extrapulmonary disease

The importance of Mycobacterium bovis as a zoonosis

Spoligotyping and pncA polymorphisme: A two step scenario for Mycobacterium bovis diagnosis in Portugal

Pericarditis as primary manifestation of Mycobacterium bovis ssp. caprae infection

A multiplex polymerase chain reaction for distinguishing Mycobacterium tuberculosis from Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex

The epidemiology of Mycobacterium bovis infections in animals and man: A review

Original articleA study of bovine strains of mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from humans in South-East England, 1977–1979

Abstract

Résumé

Zusammenfassung

Tubercle

Tubercle

Mycobacterium bovis nom. nov

International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology

Identitication of tubercle bacilli

Annales de Microbiologie

Original article
A study of bovine strains of mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from humans in South-East England, 1977–1979