Threat from Mycobacterium orygis-associated tuberculosis in south Asia

Abstract

South Asia is a hotspot of tuberculosis with an estimated annual incidence of 3·7 million cases, accounting for 37% of the global tuberculosis incidence in 2019.1 The southeast Asia region, which includes south Asia, has a high burden from zoonotic tuberculosis, with an estimated 43 000 (31·76%) new cases in 2016; however, as the causative agent of this zoonotic tuberculosis has not been fully defined, the true incidence could be underestimated.2 Reports of tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium orygis in animals and humans in south Asia, and the discovery of M orygis in south Asian migrants, highlights an overlooked threat from M orygis in south Asia and beyond.