The role of Mycobacteria in Veterinary Medicine
Conference in 31st Annual Congress of the European Society of Mycobacteriology (ESM 2010)
July 5th, 2010
Aranaz A., Bezos J., Romero B., Castellanos E., Rodriguez-Campos S., Casal C., Fernandez de Mera IG., Lozano F., Moya N., de Juan L., Mateos A. and Dominguez L.
Introduction. The species of the genus Mycobacterium are responsible of infections of veterinary interest that cause serious sanitary and economic impact. Several of these infections are zoonoses.
Objective. The tasks of a laboratory involve the diagnosis, identification and molecular characterisation of mycobacterial infections in livestock, pets, wildlife or exotic animals. This commitment contributes to the control of the infections.
Material and Methods. The protocol for diagnosis depends on the disease and animal species. It may involve the evaluation of reagents for the intra-dermal tuberculin tests, the gamma-interferon assay, ELISA tests, and bacteriological culture and identification using molecular methods (complex or species-specific PCRs,16S rRNA and hsp65 sequencing, probes, etc). Studies on epidemiology also vary according to the pathogen, thus isolates of the M. tuberculosis complex are currently fingerprinted using DVR-spoligotyping and variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs), and isolates within the M. avium complex are characterised by PFGE, RFLP, and VNTRs.
Results. Main etiological agents of tuberculosis in animals are M. bovis and M. caprae, which affect domestic animals (cattle, goats) and wildlife (badger, deer, wild boar, lynx). M. tuberculosis complex organisms may also infect pets (dogs, cats) and zoo animals (elephants, primates, pinnipedae). Molecular characterisation allows identification of outbreaks and knowledge of reservoirs. Other relevant mycobacteria include M. avium paratuberculosis in ruminant
species, M. a. avium in birds and raptors, M. a. hominissuis in swine, and atypical mycobacteria such as M. genavense in birds, M. nonchoromogenicum, M. fortuitum and M. chelonae in reptiles and turtles, or M. peregrinum and M. marinum in fishes.
Discussion. A complete and accurate identification of these mycobacteria in human patients is needed to assess the presence of the zoonoses. In this way, a close collaboration with human health laboratories is essential
 | Servicio de Micobacterias (MYC). Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
| Departamento de Sanidad Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
Link to 31st Annual Congress of the European Society of Mycobacteriology (ESM 2010)
