Mycobacterium microti Infection in Dairy Goats, France

Lorraine Michelet (1, 2) , Krystel de Cruz (2) , Yohann Phalente , Claudine Karoui , Sylvie Hénault (2) , Marina Beral (3) , María Laura Boschiroli (2)

1 Laboratoire National de Référence de la Tuberculose
2 Laboratoire de santé animale, sites de Maisons-Alfort et de Normandie
3 UMR ASTRE - Animal, Santé, Territoires, Risques et Ecosystèmes

Mycobacterium microti is a member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC). This complex also includes M. tuberculosis, which causes human tuberculosis, and M. bovis and M. caprae, which cause bovine tuberculosis. M. microti was initially described as a pathogen of small rodents and also frequently affects domestic animals, especially cats, and has also been described in wildlife, especially wild boars and badgers (1). This mycobacterium has also been involved in human pulmonary tuberculosis cases, which highlights its potential zoonotic risk (2). We report a case of M. microti infection in a dairy goat herd, which underlines the risk for confounding bovine tuberculosis diagnosis and potential consequences for livestock management.

Domaines: Bactériologie; Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]; Biologie animale; Médecine vétérinaire et santé animale

Lorraine Michelet, Krystel de Cruz, Yohann Phalente, Claudine Karoui, Sylvie Hénault, et al.. Mycobacterium microti Infection in Dairy Goats, France. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2016, 22 (3), pp.569-570. ⟨10.3201/eid2203.151870⟩. ⟨anses-03910928⟩