In Vorarlberg, a person became infected with the pathogen as a result of cases of bovine tuberculosis. Infection is rare but, as the current case shows, possible. A classification.
Bovine tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that can be transmitted to humans and is therefore a zoonosis. It is caused by the two types of bacteria Mycobacterium bovis – which occur worldwide – and Mycobacterium caprae, which has been found in western Austria and other European countries, according to a fact sheet from the Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES).
The risk of infection increases with prolonged contact
The good news: the risk of infection for humans is not particularly high, especially not with Mycobacterium caprae, as German lung specialists write. However, it increases with prolonged contact with infected creatures. The greatest danger to humans comes from drinking unpasteurized milk.
Tuberculosis often goes unnoticed for a long time
One of the biggest problems with tuberculosis is that the disease progresses slowly and often goes unnoticed for years. “It is usually only discovered on the basis of striking slaughter findings,” writes AGES. Wild animals such as red deer, wild boar and badgers can form a reservoir of pathogens; tuberculosis remains permanently present in these animals. From this reservoir the disease can spread to domestic animals, for example when livestock use alpine pastures and pastures.
The transmission itself takes place by inhaling fine droplets containing pathogens that are coughed up by sick animals or via contaminated food. Tuberculosis bacteria, which are excreted in milk, for example, can survive on feed for months.
These are the signs
Outwardly visible cases of bovine tuberculosis occur only very rarely. The most likely signs of the disease are a progressive cough due to chronic pulmonary tuberculosis and a gradually worsening general condition with weight loss. Tubercular processes can also affect other organs. Because of the associated shedding of pathogens, udder, uterine, intestinal and testicular tuberculosis are of paramount importance.
Source: Krone
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