Epidemiology of Mycobacterium bovis Disease in Humans in the Netherlands
Author Information
Author(s): Majoor Christof J., Magis-Escurra Cecile, van Ingen Jakko, Boeree Martin J., van Soolingen Dick
Primary Institution: Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Hypothesis
What is the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of Mycobacterium bovis disease in humans in the Netherlands from 1993 to 2007?
Conclusion
The incidence of Mycobacterium bovis disease in the Netherlands is comparable to that in other countries with control programs, with significant gender differences in clinical features and mortality rates.
Supporting Evidence
- 1.4% of tuberculosis cases in the Netherlands are caused by Mycobacterium bovis.
- Most patients had extrapulmonary disease, with no person-to-person transmission observed.
- Lymph node TB was more likely to develop in women, while pulmonary disease was more common in men.
Takeaway
This study looked at how many people in the Netherlands got sick from a type of bacteria called Mycobacterium bovis, which can cause tuberculosis, and found that it mostly affects older Dutch people and immigrants from Morocco.
Methodology
A retrospective analysis of data from two databases covering clinical, demographic, treatment, and outcome characteristics of patients with M. bovis disease.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the retrospective nature of the study and reliance on voluntary registration in the databases.
Limitations
The study had a relatively low number of foreign-born patients and could not distinguish between native Dutch and second-generation immigrants.
Participant Demographics
Most patients were native Dutch (59.7%) or Moroccan (23.4%), with a significant number of cases in major cities.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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