Mycobacterial Infections in Veterinary and Wildlife Systems
Summary
Mycobacterial pathogens represent a group of closely related bacteria that cause tuberculosis and related diseases across a wide range of domestic and wild animal species. Members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, notably Mycobacterium bovis, M. caprae, M. pinnipedii and M. microti, have been documented in livestock, companion animals and free‐living wildlife, with implications for animal health, conservation and public health. Infection often manifests as respiratory or disseminated disease with characteristic granulomatous lesions detectable at necropsy. Transmission can occur through direct contact, environmental contamination and ingestion of contaminated products, while reverse zoonotic events can establish novel reservoirs in captive or feral populations. Control efforts rely on a combination of surveillance, immunodiagnostic testing, biosecurity measures and, in some settings, vaccination. However, diagnostic sensitivity and specificity vary among host species and pathogen variants, challenging eradication programmes. Wildlife reservoirs such as deer, boar, badgers and marine mammals can perpetuate infection in livestock and spill back into humans, underlining the need for integrated One Health approaches. Recent advances in molecular diagnostics, genomics and experimental infection models have enhanced our understanding of host–pathogen interactions, virulence determinants and transmission dynamics. Such knowledge supports risk assessment, informs policy on raw food feeding practices and guides the design of targeted interventions to disrupt transmission at the wildlife–livestock–human interface.
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Mycobacterial Infections in Veterinary and Wildlife Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in mycobacterial infections in veterinary and wildlife systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC): A group of genetically related mycobacterial species that cause tuberculosis across humans and animals.
Granuloma: A structured aggregate of immune cells formed around persistent pathogens or foreign material.
Reverse zoonosis: Transmission of pathogens from humans to animals.
Necropsy: Post‐mortem examination to determine disease lesions and causes of death in animals.
Interferon‐gamma release assay (IGRA): An immunodiagnostic test measuring cell‐mediated immune response to mycobacterial antigens.
References
- Transmissibility of Mycobacterium pinnipedii in a murine model. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology (2024).
- Genomics insights into a Mycobacterium pinnipedii isolate causing tuberculosis in a captive South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens) from Italy. Frontiers in Microbiology (2023).
- Tuberculosis in Lemurs and a Fossa at National Zoo, Madagascar, 2022 - Volume 29, Number 12—December 2023 - Emerging Infectious Diseases journal - CDC. Emerging Infectious Diseases (2023).
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