Isolation of viable Mycobacterium bovis from faeces of naturally infected free-ranging rural domestic cattle (Bos taurus).

ABSTRACT:

Aims

This study investigated the presence of viable Mycobacterium bovis in faecal samples collected from 79 free-ranging domestic cattle in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Methods and results

Faecal samples were processed under biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) conditions and analysed using mycobacterial culture followed by molecular speciation, as well as being screened using the GeneXpert® MTB/RIF Ultra (GXU®) assay. Viable M. bovis was isolated from two animals, confirmed through region-of-difference PCR and spoligotyping. These findings provide rare field-based confirmation of natural faecal shedding of viable M. bovis in cattle. The GXU® detected Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) DNA in eight samples (10.1%), including those that were culture positive, supporting its

SUBMITTER: Gumbo R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12661519 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature