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Bovine TB Zoonosis in Africa

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Tuberculosis in Animals: An African Perspective

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Abstract

Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) can infect and cause zoonotic tuberculosis (zoonotic TB, zTB) in humans. Pathways for contracting an M. bovis infection in humans include consumption of raw milk and undercooked meat from diseased animals, and inhalation of aerosol droplets during contact with infected animals. Given that these risk factors are widespread in Africa, zoonotic tuberculosis caused by M. bovis can be a major problem under certain circumstances, particularly when people consume unpasteurized milk. However, for Africa, the data are almost non-existent and totally inadequate, and an assessment of the situation is largely based on small, local studies, and unreliable anecdotal information. Furthermore, TB caused by either M. tuberculosis (highly prevalent in Africa) or M. bovis is both clinically and pathologically indistinguishable, and neither the lesions nor their distribution can be used to determine the specific mycobacterial species causing the infection. Any study that focuses only on the pathology of TB to determine the specific cause will thus have some inherent bias. In this chapter, the extent of M. bovis infection in the global human population is reviewed. The significance of M. bovis in human tuberculosis in Africa is also highlighted. In summary, an integrated and inter-disciplinary One Health approach is needed to investigate the problem in depth to ascertain whether it is a real public health issue or not.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, South African MRC Centre for TB Research, DST NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa

    Paul D. van Helden

  2. Department Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa

    Anita Michel

Authors
  1. Paul D. van Helden
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  2. Anita Michel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paul D. van Helden .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicince, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, USA

    Asseged B. Dibaba

  2. Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa

    Nicolaas P. J. Kriek

  3. Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ames, IA, USA

    Charles O. Thoen

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van Helden, P.D., Michel, A. (2019). Bovine TB Zoonosis in Africa. In: Dibaba, A., Kriek, N., Thoen, C. (eds) Tuberculosis in Animals: An African Perspective. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18690-6_3

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