Abstract
Background: Zoonotic Tuberculosis (ZTB) in humans caused by Mycobacterium bovis (M.
bovis), the causal agent of bovine TB, remains an important challenge in terms of diagnosis.
Recently (2017), a novel lateral flow immunochromatographic device (LFD) antibody test was
developed and evaluated for the specific detection of M. bovis in veterinary samples. The
objectives of this study were to: 1) use the LFD to screen a group of human samples from TB
suspect patients in Mubende district, and 2) assess sociocultural practices from patients
testing positive to M. bovis by the LFD assay.
Methods: 125 patients having a cough for at least two weeks and a smear positive sputum test
were interviewed between August 30 , 2016 and June 29, 2017 at the Mubende Regional
Referral Hospital, Kasambya, Kiganda, Kassanda, Bukuya health centers. Sputum samples
were collected by qualified and experienced medical personnel, cultured and then tested using
the LFD test.
Results: The LFD assay detected 22 (17.6%, 95% CI: 11-25%) M. bovis positive sputum
cultures among all TB suspect patients. More than half (56%) of these patients reported
eating/drinking unpasteurized dairy products, and 78% reported eating uncooked meat. Finally,
19 of these LFD positive patients (82.6%) worked in proximity to animals (all of them as
farmers). All but one of the 22 LFD positive patients (21 (95.4%), 95% CI: 77 - 99%) were
confirmed as Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex positive by the HAIN test.
Conclusions: The results using the novel LFD assay agree with previous results published for
rural areas in Africa with similar socio-cultural eating practices, and therefore, this study
highlights the importance to further investigate the use of appropriate tools and methods to
correctly identify M. bovis as the potential cause of human TB among patients in such high-risk
communities.
bovis), the causal agent of bovine TB, remains an important challenge in terms of diagnosis.
Recently (2017), a novel lateral flow immunochromatographic device (LFD) antibody test was
developed and evaluated for the specific detection of M. bovis in veterinary samples. The
objectives of this study were to: 1) use the LFD to screen a group of human samples from TB
suspect patients in Mubende district, and 2) assess sociocultural practices from patients
testing positive to M. bovis by the LFD assay.
Methods: 125 patients having a cough for at least two weeks and a smear positive sputum test
were interviewed between August 30 , 2016 and June 29, 2017 at the Mubende Regional
Referral Hospital, Kasambya, Kiganda, Kassanda, Bukuya health centers. Sputum samples
were collected by qualified and experienced medical personnel, cultured and then tested using
the LFD test.
Results: The LFD assay detected 22 (17.6%, 95% CI: 11-25%) M. bovis positive sputum
cultures among all TB suspect patients. More than half (56%) of these patients reported
eating/drinking unpasteurized dairy products, and 78% reported eating uncooked meat. Finally,
19 of these LFD positive patients (82.6%) worked in proximity to animals (all of them as
farmers). All but one of the 22 LFD positive patients (21 (95.4%), 95% CI: 77 - 99%) were
confirmed as Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex positive by the HAIN test.
Conclusions: The results using the novel LFD assay agree with previous results published for
rural areas in Africa with similar socio-cultural eating practices, and therefore, this study
highlights the importance to further investigate the use of appropriate tools and methods to
correctly identify M. bovis as the potential cause of human TB among patients in such high-risk
communities.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2019 |
