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The control of bovine tuberculosis and atypicalmycobacterioses in cattle in developing countries is important but difficult because
of the existence of wildlife reservoirs. In cattle farms in Tanzania, mycobacteria were detected in 7.3% of 645 small mammals
and in cow’s milk. The cattle farms were divided into “reacting” and “nonreacting” farms, based on tuberculin tests, and more
mycobacteria were present in insectivores collected in reacting farms as compared to nonreacting farms. More mycobacteria were
also present in insectivores as compared to rodents. All mycobacteria detected by culture and PCR in the small mammals were
atypical mycobacteria. Analysis of the presence of mycobacteria in relation to the reactor status of the cattle farms does not exclude
transmission between smallmammals and cattle but indicates that transmission to cattle from another source of infection is more
likely. However, because of the high prevalence of mycobacteria in some small mammal species, these infected animals can pose a
risk to humans, especially in areas with a high HIV-prevalence as is the case in Tanzania |
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