Detection of mycobacterial infection in non-human primates using the Xpert MTB/RIF molecular assay

• Published in: Tuberculosis (Edinburgh, Scotland) Scotland), 2017-12, Vol.107, p.59-62
• Main Authors: da Silva, Duanne Alves, Rêgo, Amanda M., Ferreira, Nicole V., de Andrade, Manoela A.S., Campelo, Aline R., Caldas, Paulo César S., Pereira, Márcia Aparecida S., Redner, Paulo, de Pina, Lucindo C., Resende, Felipe C., Pissinatti, Thalita A., Lopes, Claudia A.A., Kugelmeier, Tatiana, Perea, Javier A.S., de Souza, Igo V., da Silva, Fábio A., Campos, Carla F., Fandinho Montes, Fátima C.O., Antunes, L. Caetano M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antitubercular Agents - pharmacology; Bacteriological Techniques - veterinary; Diagnosis; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; DNA, Bacterial - isolation & purification; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial - genetics; Genotype; Monkey Diseases - diagnosis; Monkey Diseases - drug therapy; Monkey Diseases - microbiology; Mycobacterium tuberculosis - drug effects; Mycobacterium tuberculosis - genetics; Mycobacterium tuberculosis - isolation & purification; Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary; Predictive Value of Tests; Resistance; Rifampin - pharmacology; Saimiri - microbiology; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis, Cutaneous - diagnosis; Tuberculosis, Cutaneous - drug therapy; Tuberculosis, Cutaneous - microbiology; Tuberculosis, Cutaneous - veterinary; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant - diagnosis; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant - drug therapy; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant - microbiology; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant - veterinary; Zoonosis
• ISSN: 1472-9792; 1873-281X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2017.08.003

Tuberculosis is a major public health concern, and diagnostic strategies applied to animal populations are scarce. As part of ongoing efforts to control tuberculosis dissemination at our animal facility, two non-human primates (NHP, Saimiri sciureus) presenting cutaneous lesions were examined for mycobacterial infection. Both animals tested positive for acid-fast bacilli and Mycobacterium tuberculosis using a molecular assay (IS6110 PCR). Animals were euthanized and several samples were tested for M. tuberculosis using the Xpert MTB/RIF assay. Many samples were positive for M. tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance, and some produced mycobacterial growth. Oral swabs from cage mates were then tested with Xpert MTB/RIF, and the majority tested positive for M. tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance, and produced growth in culture. To our knowledge, this is the first report of multidrug-resistant mycobacterial infection in NHP. Additionally, our data shows that the Xpert MTB/RIF assay can be useful as a screening tool for tuberculosis infection in NHP.