Zoonotic Tuberculosis

Zoonotic tuberculosis has long been a neglected zoonosis that is predominantly caused by Mycobacterium bovis . The organism belongs to a group of mycobacteria, together with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and others that derive from a common ancestor, forming Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. The pathogenicity of M. tuberculosis complex is a multifactorial phenomenon that requires the participation of the cumulative effect of several glycolipid complexes such as lipoarabinomannan that may interfere with phagosome maturation. Tuberculosis is usually a chronic and debilitating disease in cattle, but acute and rapidly progressive cases are also possible. Some of the important diagnostic methods which are used in animals are described. Bacillus Calmette–Guerin vaccine is the only registered tuberculosis vaccine for humans and was developed by Calmette and Guerin from a strain of M. bovis which was originally isolated by Nocard from a case of tuberculous mastitis.