Characterization of Mycobacterium orygis, Mycobacterium bovis, and Mycobacterium caprae Infections in Humans in Western Canada

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases 2024-10, Vol.230 (4), p.e789-e797
• Main Authors: Riopel, Nicholas D, Long, Richard, Heffernan, Courtney, Tyrrell, Gregory J, Shandro, Cary, Li, Vincent, Islam, Md Rashedul, Stobart, Michael, Sharma, Meenu K, Soualhine, Hafid, Cooper, Ryan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Alberta - epidemiology; Animals; Canada - epidemiology; Child; Epidemiology; Female; Humans; Infections; Major; Male; Middle Aged; Mycobacterium; Mycobacterium - classification; Mycobacterium - isolation & purification; Mycobacterium bovis; Mycobacterium bovis - isolation & purification; Mycobacterium Infections - epidemiology; Mycobacterium Infections - microbiology; Pregnancy; Public health; Retrospective Studies; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis - epidemiology; Tuberculosis - microbiology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiae124

Abstract Epidemiologic research on zoonotic tuberculosis historically used Mycobacterium bovis as a surrogate measure; however, increased reports of human tuberculosis caused by other animal-associated Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex members like Mycobacterium orygis necessitates their inclusion. We performed a retrospective cohort study including persons infected with any animal-lineage M tuberculosis complex species in Alberta, Canada, from January 1995 to July 2021, identifying 42 patients (20 M bovis, 21 M orygis, 1 M caprae). Demographic, epidemiologic, and clinical characteristics were compared against persons with culture-confirmed M tuberculosis infection. The proportion of culture-positive infections caused by M orygis increased continuously from 2016 to 2020. Significantly more females at a higher median age were impacted by M orygis, with all patients originating from South Asia. Mycobacterium bovis caused significantly more extrapulmonary disease and disproportionately impacted young females, particularly those pregnant or postpartum. All infections were acquired abroad. These findings can aid in developing targeted public health interventions. In response to inadequate understanding of the epidemiology of zoonotic tuberculosis infections globally, this study conducted in Alberta, Canada, analyzed 25 years of data on animal-adapted Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex species infections, including the emerging pathogen Mycobacterium orygis.