Abstract
Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a disease caused mainly by the Mycobacterium bovis and that is endemic to livestock populations in most Latin American countries. Traditionally, bTB control programs are costly and targeted to cattle, largely disregarding other species such as swine and wildlife. According to official services, in Argentina disease prevalence in pigs is comparable to that observed in cattle, suggesting the need for efficient control programs to manage the disease in both species. Additionally, extensive farming systems, which are commonly practiced in Argentina, allow the interaction between livestock and wildlife such as wild boar (Sus scrofa), which is considered a natural host of the disease. Here, we evaluated the bTB pigs- cattle interface, studying the dynamics of M. bovis isolates in the pig population and identifying farm-level epidemiological variables associated with the disease confirmation at slaughterhouses. Additionally, to assess the potential multi-host systems in the transmission of bTB, the molecular characterization of wild boar mycobacterial strains was included in the study, as this interaction has not been previously evaluated in this region. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the association between farm-level epidemiological variables (location, farm size, and co-existence with cattle and goats) and bTB confirmation in pig tuberculosis-like lesions samples. Results showed that when cattle were present, the odds of bTB in pigs decreased 0.3 or 0.6% for every additional sow when cattle were present or absent in the farm, respectively. Pigs shared 60% (18/30) of the genotypes with cattle and wild boar, suggesting transmission at the interface between pigs and cattle and highlighting the potential role of wild boar in bTB maintenance. These results provide novel information about the molecular diversity of M. bovis strains in pigs in Argentina and proposes the potential relevance of a multi-host system in the epidemiology of bTB in the region. The statistical models presented here may be used in the design of a low cost, abattoir-based surveillance program for bTB in the pig industry in Argentina, with potential extension to other settings with similar epidemiological conditions.
Highlights
Bovine tuberculosis is a widely spread disease that causes far-reaching economic losses through direct impact on animal health, restrictions to trade, confiscation and destruction of meat, and costs associated with the implementation of control programs [1]
The aim of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of mycobacteria in the pig population and to identify farm-level epidemiological variables associated with M. bovis confirmation in tuberculosis like lesions (TBL) samples detected during slaughter
Model 1 showed that the odds of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) decreased 0.6% (β = −0.006) for every additional sow in the farm but were twice as high (OR: 2.02; 95% confidence intervals (95% CI): 0.88–4.65) in farms with cattle, compared with those without cattle
Summary
Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a widely spread disease that causes far-reaching economic losses through direct impact on animal health, restrictions to trade, confiscation and destruction of meat, and costs associated with the implementation of control programs [1]. BTB is often a neglected disease with reemergence periods in domestic animals, wildlife, and humans, representing a public health concern [2, 3]. Because there are many potential hosts for M. bovis and disease incidence and distribution are wide, the implementation of effective control measures is complex in regions where susceptible livestock and wildlife coexist [4]. Domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domestica) are susceptible to different mycobacteria, mainly those species included in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) and in the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). In countries where bTB is not endemic, MAC species become relevant [8, 9]
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