Author/Authors :
Ben Kahla, I Veterinary Research Institute of Tunisia, Tunisia , Ben Kahla, I Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Farhat Hached - Microbiology and Immunology Laboratory, Tunisia , Boschiroli, ML French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational health safety - National and OIE/FAO Bovine Tuberculosis Reference Laboratories, Bacterial Zoonoses Unit – Animal HealthLaboratory, France , Souissi, F Veterinary Research Institute of Tunisia, Tunisia , Cherif, N Veterinary Research Institute of Tunisia, Tunisia , Benzarti, M National Veterinary Medicine School, Tunisia , Boukadida, J Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Farhat Hached - Microbiology and Immunology Laboratory, Tunisia , Hammami, S Veterinary Research Institute of Tunisia, Tunisia
Abstract :
Background: Consumption of raw milk and unpasteurized dairy products is common in Tunisia where bovine tuberculosis remains enzootic. We herein investigated the frequency of M. bovis isolation from raw milk. Methods: Three hundred and six milk samples collected from 102 infected cows in different Tunisian regions were analysed. M. bovis isolates were further characterized by spoligotyping and variable number tandem repeat typing. Results: A total of five (4.9 %) M. bovis strains exhibiting three different genotypes were isolated. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that consumers of raw milk or derivatives in Tunisia are at high risk of zoonotic infection with M. bovis.
Keywords :
Mycobacterium bovis , Tuberculosis , Raw milk, Zoonosis
