Mycobacterium bovis Strains Causing Smear-Positive Human Tuberculosis, Southwest Ireland
2008

Mycobacterium bovis Strains Causing Human Tuberculosis in Southwest Ireland

Sample size: 501 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Ojo Olabisi, Sheehan Stella, Corcoran G. Daniel, Okker Melissa, Gover Karen, Nikolayevsky Vladyslav, Brown Timothy, Dale James, Gordon Stephen V., Drobniewski Francis, Prentice Michael B.

Primary Institution: University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

Hypothesis

What are the characteristics and transmission patterns of Mycobacterium bovis strains causing human tuberculosis in southwest Ireland?

Conclusion

The study identified that Mycobacterium bovis caused 3% of human tuberculosis cases in southwest Ireland from 1998 to 2006, with a predominance of certain spoligotypes linked to animal strains.

Supporting Evidence

  • 3% of human tuberculosis cases in southwest Ireland were caused by Mycobacterium bovis from 1998 to 2006.
  • Nine out of eleven M. bovis strains belonged to common animal spoligotypes.
  • Seven strains were from sputum, indicating potential for human transmission.

Takeaway

This study looked at germs that cause tuberculosis in people from cows in Ireland and found that some germs are very common and can spread between people.

Methodology

The study used molecular typing methods including spoligotyping and VNTR typing to analyze M. bovis strains from human patients.

Limitations

The study only included isolates from southwest Ireland and may not represent the situation in other regions.

Participant Demographics

81% of infected patients were over 30 years old.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.3201/eid1412.071135

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