Transmission of Tuberculosis from Elephants to Humans
Author Information
Author(s): Rendi Murphree, Jon V. Warkentin, John R. Dunn, William Schaffner, Timothy F. Jones
Primary Institution: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Hypothesis
What are the risk factors for tuberculosis transmission from elephants to humans working in close proximity?
Conclusion
The study found that employees working in the quarantine area of an elephant refuge were significantly more likely to have latent tuberculosis infection due to indirect transmission from an infected elephant.
Supporting Evidence
- Employees working in the quarantine area during 2009 were 20 times more likely to have latent tuberculosis infection.
- Indirect exposure to aerosolized Mycobacterium tuberculosis likely contributed to transmission.
- Infection control practices were not strictly followed after the initial detection of tuberculosis in elephants.
Takeaway
Some people who worked with elephants got sick from a germ called tuberculosis that the elephants had. It shows that we need to be careful and protect ourselves when working with animals.
Methodology
A cohort study and onsite assessment were conducted to identify risk factors for TST conversion among employees.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to reliance on employee recall for risk factor assessment.
Limitations
The study relied on self-reported data from employees, which may introduce bias.
Participant Demographics
The average age of respondents was 38 years, with 67% being female.
Statistical Information
P-Value
20.3
Confidence Interval
2.8–146.7
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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