Zoonotic Mycobacterium bovis-induced tuberculosis in humans

Emerg Infect Dis. 2013 Jun;19(6):899-908. doi: 10.3201/eid1906.120543.

Abstract

We aimed to estimate the global occurrence of zoonotic tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium bovis or M. caprae infections in humans by performing a multilingual, systematic review and analysis of relevant scientific literature of the last 2 decades. Although information from many parts of the world was not available, data from 61 countries suggested a low global disease incidence. In regions outside Africa included in this study, overall median proportions of zoonotic TB of ≤1.4% in connection with overall TB incidence rates ≤71/100,000 population/year suggested low incidence rates. For countries of Africa included in the study, we multiplied the observed median proportion of zoonotic TB cases of 2.8% with the continental average overall TB incidence rate of 264/100,000 population/year, which resulted in a crude estimate of 7 zoonotic TB cases/100,000 population/year. These generally low incidence rates notwithstanding, available data indicated substantial consequences of this disease for some population groups and settings.

Keywords: Mycobacterium bovis; TB; bacteria; bovine tuberculosis; neglected tropical diseases; systematic review; tuberculosis and other mycobateria; zoonosis; zoonotic TB.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Africa
  • Americas
  • Animals
  • Australia
  • Cattle
  • China
  • Coinfection
  • Europe
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Mycobacterium bovis*
  • New Zealand
  • Tuberculosis / epidemiology*
  • Zoonoses / epidemiology*