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Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium microti) in wild field vole populations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 November 2007

S. BURTHE ,
M. BENNETT ,
A. KIPAR ,
X. LAMBIN ,
A. SMITH ,
S. TELFER  and
M. BEGON
S. BURTHE
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZB National Centre for Zoonosis Research, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Chester High Road, Neston CH64 7TE
M. BENNETT
Affiliation:
National Centre for Zoonosis Research, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Chester High Road, Neston CH64 7TE
A. KIPAR
Affiliation:
National Centre for Zoonosis Research, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Chester High Road, Neston CH64 7TE
X. LAMBIN
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ
A. SMITH
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZB National Centre for Zoonosis Research, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Chester High Road, Neston CH64 7TE
S. TELFER
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZB National Centre for Zoonosis Research, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Chester High Road, Neston CH64 7TE
M. BEGON*
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZB
*
*Corresponding author: School of Biological Sciences, The University of Liverpool, Biosciences Building, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK. Tel: +44 151 795 4525. Fax: +44 151 795 4408. E-mail: mbegon@liverpool.ac.uk
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Summary

Vole tuberculosis (TB; Mycobacterium microti) is an understudied endemic infection. Despite progressing slowly, it causes severe clinical pathology and overt symptoms in its rodent host. TB was monitored for 2 years in wild field voles in Kielder Forest, UK. The prevalence of characteristic cutaneous TB lesions was monitored longitudinally at 4 sites, with individuals live-trapped and repeatedly monitored. A prevalence of 5·2% of individuals with lesions was recorded (n=2791). In a cross-sectional study, 27 sites were monitored bi-annually, with TB assessed by post-mortem examination for macroscopic lesions, and by culture and histopathology. Seventy-nine voles (10·78%; n=733) were positive for mycobacteria, with the highest prevalence in spring (13·15%; n=327). TB prevalence varied, with between 0% and 50% of voles infected per site. Prevalence increased with age (mass), and apparent seasonality was due to a higher proportion of older animals in spring. Survival analysis supported this result, with cutaneous lesions only manifesting in the advanced stages of infection, and therefore only being found on older voles. The body condition of individuals with lesions declined at the time when the lesion was first recorded, when compared to individuals without lesions, suggesting there may be an acute phase of infection during its advanced stage. Although predicted survival following the appearance of a cutaneous lesion was lower than for uninfected individuals, this was not significant.

Keywords

endemic pathogenMicrotus agrestislongitudinalTBsurvivalwildlife disease
Type
Original Articles
Information
Parasitology , Volume 135 , Issue 3 , March 2008 , pp. 309 - 317
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

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