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. 2009;4(4):e5068.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0005068. Epub 2009 Apr 7.

The burden of mycobacterial disease in ethiopian cattle: implications for public health

Stefan Berg  1 , Rebuma Firdessa, Meseret Habtamu, Endalamaw Gadisa, Araya Mengistu, Lawrence Yamuah, Gobena Ameni, Martin Vordermeier, Brian D Robertson, Noel H Smith, Howard Engers, Douglas Young, R Glyn Hewinson, Abraham Aseffa, Stephen V Gordon
Affiliations

The burden of mycobacterial disease in ethiopian cattle: implications for public health

Stefan Berg et al. PLoS One. 2009.

Erratum in

  • PLoS One. 2009;4(4). doi: 10.1371/annotation/f7240b30-f202-45c5-aacb-4fda2efb8b3d

Abstract

Background: Bovine tuberculosis (bTB), caused by Mycobacterium bovis, is a debilitating disease of cattle. Ethiopia has one of the largest cattle populations in the world, with an economy highly dependent on its livestock. Furthermore, Ethiopia has one of the highest incidence rates of human extrapulmonary TB in the world, a clinical presentation that is often associated with transmission of M. bovis from cattle to humans.

Methodology/principal findings: Here we present a comprehensive investigation of the prevalence of bTB in Ethiopia based on cases identified at slaughterhouses. Out of approximately 32,800 inspected cattle, approximately 4.7% showed suspect tuberculous lesions. Culture of suspect lesions yielded acid-fast bacilli in approximately 11% of cases, with M. bovis accounting for 58 of 171 acid-fast cultures, while 53 isolates were non-tuberculous mycobacteria. Strikingly, M. tuberculosis was isolated from eight cattle, an unusual finding that suggests human to animal transmission.

Conclusions/significance: Our analysis has revealed that bTB is widely spread throughout Ethiopia, albeit at a low prevalence, and provides underpinning evidence for public health policy formulation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Geographical distribution of Mycobacterium isolates from cattle in Ethiopia.
The total number of M. bovis (•), M. tuberculosis (▪), and NTM (○), isolated from respective abattoir are indicated in respective box, as well as characterised spoligotype patterns. Approximate area coverage for each abattoir is shown by a solid circle.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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