Abstract
The risk for humans to contract bovine tuberculosis through the consumption of undercooked game meat as well as biltong (traditionally dried game meat) is a concern. The survival potential of Mycobacterium bovis during the cooking and drying processes was researched in a preceding study on beef and the positive results compelled the authors to investigate the results with a similar preliminary study on game meat. Muscular, lymphatic and visceral tissues from skin test positive African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) with tuberculous lesions were collected from the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park during the park's culling programme. The different tissues were exposed to cooking and the muscular tissue to the drying process prior to culture. All acid-fast isolates were analysed by polymerase chain reaction for the presence of Mycobacterium bovis. All tissues were found negative for Mycobacterium bovis but non-tuberculous mycobacteria were isolated from kidney, liver, heart and lymph nodes. The results showed that these processes will kill Mycobacterium bovis but the unexpected recovery of non-tuberculous mycobacteria suggests possible survival and resistance characteristics of these strains which might be of veterinary public health interest.
Highlights
Game farmers in South Africa have progressed from world leaders in extensive sustainable utilisation of game species to fully fledged suppliers of game meat, both to the local and international meat markets[6,24]
Biltong-making No mycobacteria were isolated from any of the 14 tissue samples from African buffalo and kudu that were exposed to the biltong-making process
None of the isolates were identified as M. bovis but all isolates were diagnosed as NTM9,21
Summary
Game farmers in South Africa have progressed from world leaders in extensive sustainable utilisation of game species to fully fledged suppliers of game meat, both to the local and international meat markets[6,24]. It has been noted that the risk of contracting tuberculosis is increased by the intake of game meat not subjected to meat inspection, eviscerated material and inadequately dried or cooked meat[3]. This may be a problem especially in poorer communities, as they often obtain their meat from uncontrolled sources. The presence and spread of Mycobacterium bovis has been extensively researched and monitored, especially in the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) population in aDepartment Environmental Health, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa. BDepartment Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa.
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