Mycobacterium microti Tuberculosis in its maintenance host, the field vole (Microtus agrestis) : characterization of the disease and possible routes of transmission

Kipar, A; Burthe, SJ; Hetzel, U; Rokia, MA; Telfer, S; Lambin, X; Birtles, RJ; Begon, M; Bennett, M

Abstract

The field vole (Microtus agrestis) is a known maintenance host of Mycobacterium microti. Previous studies have shown that infected animals develop tuberculosis. However, the disease is also known in cats and is sporadically reported from humans and other mammalian species. We examined trapped field voles from an endemic area, using a range of diagnostic approaches. These confirmed that a combination of gross and histological examination with culture is most appropriate to identify the true prevalence of the disease, which was shown to be more than 13% at times when older animals that have previously been shown to be more likely to develop the disease dominate the population. The thorough pathological examination of diseased animals showed that voles generally develop systemic disease with most frequent involvement of spleen and liver, followed by skin, lymph nodes, and lungs. The morphology of the lesions was consistent with active disease, and their distribution suggested skin wounds or oral and/or aerogenic infection as the main portal of entry. The demonstration of mycobacteria in open skin lesions, airways, and salivary glands indicated bacterial shedding from the skin and with sputum and saliva. This suggests not only the environment but also direct contact and devouring as likely sources of infection.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Dec 13, 2013
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: Jan 19, 2015
• Journal: Veterinary Pathology
• Print ISSN: 0300-9858
• Electronic ISSN: 1544-2217
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 51
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 903-914
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0300985813513040
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0300985813513040
• Related Public URLs: http://www.uk.sagepub.com/journals/Journal201966
• Additional Information: Funders : Wellcome Trust;Natural Environment Research Council (NERC);Ministry of Higher Education, Libya; Projects : Home Office project license PPL40/1813; Grant Number: 075202/Z/04/Z; Grant Number: NER/S/A/2000/03445