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Journal article
An outbreak of tuberculosis in endangered northern pig-tailed macaques (Macaca leonina) and milu deer (Elaphurus davidianus) from a zoo in China
Veterinary medicine and science, Vol.9(2), pp.992-998
2023
PMID: 36626281
Abstract
Background
Tuberculosis (TB) is a zoonotic disease that affects humans and domesticated and wild animals. Animals in zoos are potentially an important source of TB for humans; however they are often neglected in routine disease surveillance programs. This investigation reports an outbreak of TB in milu deer and northern pig-tailed macaques in a zoo in Wuhan, China, which highlighted the need for improved prevention and control of TB in China.
Methods
Between 24 November and 9 December 2020 two milu deer and a northern pig-tailed macaque that were displaying signs of wasting died. Post-mortem, histopathological diagnosis and acid fast staining were used for the dead animals. Multiple PCR for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) was performed to identify the bacterial in both milu deer and northern pig-tailed macaque. The serum antibody iELISA for MTBC was then performed for all the surviving milu deer and northern pig-tailed macaques. Six seropositive milu deer and a seropositive northern pig-tailed macaque were subsequently euthanised and, along with two other dead milu deer, necropsied. DNA from these tissue samples was extracted and detected MTBC using PCR and Real-time PCR. Subsequently bacterial isolation was used to confirm the infection.
Results
The lungs of the dead animals displayed gross and histological TB-like lesions and changes, and red staining bacilli were detected in smears of the lesions by microscopy after acid fast staining. Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) was detected in the two milu deer and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) in the northern pig-tailed macaque using multiple PCR for MTBC. 35.3% surviving milu deer and 50% surviving northern pig-tailed macaques MTBC serologically positive. Six of the euthanised milu deer were also positive on a DNA test for M. bovis and the euthanised northern pig-tailed macaque was positive to M. tb.
Conclusions
This is the first report of tuberculosis in the endangered species, milu deer and northern pig-tailed macaques, in China, and warrants urgent attention by researchers and conservation authorities. These cases highlight the need for expanding surveillance for MTBC to zoos in China.
Details
- Title
- An outbreak of tuberculosis in endangered northern pig-tailed macaques (Macaca leonina) and milu deer (Elaphurus davidianus) from a zoo in China
- Authors/Creators
- Y. Chen - Huazhong Agricultural UniversityY. Yan - Huazhong Agricultural UniversityY. Gao - Wuhan Botanical GardenY. Li - Wuhan Botanical GardenK. Zhang - Huazhong Agricultural UniversityM. Zhou - Huazhong Agricultural UniversityL. Sun - Huazhong Agricultural UniversityY. Wang - Huazhong Agricultural UniversityI. D. Robertson - School of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Perth, AustraliaA. Guo - Hubei International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Veterinary Epidemiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Publication Details
- Veterinary medicine and science, Vol.9(2), pp.992-998
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
- Grant note
- 2021CFA016 / Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province U21A20259 / National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Identifiers
- 991005546869407891
- Copyright
- © 2023 The Authors.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education; School of Veterinary Medicine
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.194 Tuberculosis & Leprosy
- 1.194.273 TB Diagnostics & Treatment
- Web Of Science research areas
- Veterinary Sciences
- ESI research areas
- Plant & Animal Science