Epidemiological characterization of Mycobacterium caprae strains isolated from wildlife in the Bieszczady Mountains, on the border of Southeast Poland

Blanka Orłowska,Monika Krajewska-Wędzina,Sylwia Brzezińska,Monika Kozińska,Piotr Żmuda,Mirosław Welz,Stanisław Kaczor,Ewa Augustynowicz-Kopeć,Krzysztof Anusz,Anna Zabost,Anna Didkowska

doi:10.1186/s12917-020-02581-3

Abstract

BackgroundThe majority of animal tuberculosis (TB) cases reported in wildlife in Poland over the past 20 years have concerned the European bison inhabiting the Bieszczady Mountains in Southeast Poland: an area running along the border of Southeast Poland. As no TB cases have been reported in domestic animals in this region since 2005, any occurrence of TB in the free-living animals inhabiting this area might pose a real threat to local livestock and result in the loss of disease-free status. The aim of the study was to describe the occurrence of tuberculosis in the wildlife of the Bieszczady Mountains and determine the microbiological and molecular characteristics of any cultured strains. Lymph node samples were collected for analysis from 274 free-living animals, including European bison, red foxes, badgers, red deer, wild boar and roe deer between 2011 and 2017. Löwenstein–Jensen and Stonebrink media were used for culture. Molecular identification of strains was performed based on hsp65 sequence analysis, the GenoType®MTBC (Hain Lifescience, Germany) test, spoligotyping and MIRU-VNTR analysis.ResultsMycobacterium caprae was isolated from the lymph nodes of 21 out of 55 wild boar (38.2%; CI 95%: 26.5%, 51.4%) and one roe deer. Since 2014, no new TB cases have been reported in the Bieszczady European bison population.ConclusionsThe identification of TB in wild boar in the Bieszczady is an alarming phenomenon, which requires further investigation. The Bieszczady mountains are a precious, unique area, home to many protected species. However, it is also the only area in Poland where TB cases have been reported in free-living animals. The occurrence of TB in wild boar inhabiting this area might pose a real threat to local livestock and many of the protected species (for example European bison that can share feeding places with wild boar). Given this situation, ongoing monitoring of the prevalence of TB should be conducted, and protective measures should be considered.

Highlights

The majority of animal tuberculosis (TB) cases reported in wildlife in Poland over the past 20 years have concerned the European bison inhabiting the Bieszczady Mountains in Southeast Poland: an area running along the border of Southeast Poland
Another disturbing phenomenon in the Bieszczady Mountains region was the first confirmed case of TB caused by Mycobacterium caprae (M.caprae) in a wild boar (Sus scrofa) [4]: as no TB cases have been reported in domestic animals in the Bieszczady Mountains region since 2005, any occurrence of TB in free-living animals inhabiting this area might pose a real threat to local livestock and result in the loss of its disease-free status
The microbiological analysis confirmed the presence of Mycobacterium caprae in the samples collected from 21 out of 55 wild boar (38.2%; CI 95%: 26.5%, 51.4%) in Bieszczady County and the single roe deer found near Wetlina (Cisna Commune, Lesko County) (Tables 1 and 2; Fig. 1)

Summary

Introduction

The majority of animal tuberculosis (TB) cases reported in wildlife in Poland over the past 20 years have concerned the European bison inhabiting the Bieszczady Mountains in Southeast Poland: an area running along the border of Southeast Poland. The identification of disease outbreaks in this region resulted in the culling of two herds of European bison (Bison bonasus caucasicus), each counting more than 20 individuals: “Brzegi Dolne” (1997–2001) [1] and “Górny San” (2010–2013) [2, 3] Another disturbing phenomenon in the Bieszczady Mountains region was the first confirmed case of TB caused by Mycobacterium caprae (M.caprae) in a wild boar (Sus scrofa) [4]: as no TB cases have been reported in domestic animals in the Bieszczady Mountains region since 2005, any occurrence of TB in free-living animals inhabiting this area might pose a real threat to local livestock and result in the loss of its disease-free status. It is difficult to monitor tuberculosis in the wildlife inhabiting this area, as it hosts many protected species, and diagnostic culling requires the consent of the Minister of the Environment

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