Recovery of <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> Complex Isolates Including Pre-Extensively Drug-Resistant Strains From Cattle at a Slaughterhouse in Chennai, India.

ABSTRACT:

Background

India has the highest global burden of human tuberculosis (TB) and the largest cattle herd with endemic bovine TB (bTB). However, the extent of cross-species transmission and the zoonotic spillover risk, including drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) strains circulating in cattle, remain uncharacterized.

Methods

To address this major knowledge gap, we investigated tissue samples from 500 apparently healthy cattle at a slaughterhouse in Chennai, India. Whole genome sequencing was performed to characterize the isolates.

Results

Sixteen animals (32 per 1000 [95% confidence interval, 16-47]) were MTBC-positive, a rate that is nearly an order of magnitude greater than the reported human TB incidence in the region. Thirteen isolates wer

SUBMITTER: Ramanujam H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11736417 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature