Bovin tuberkulos : smittvägar mellan människa och nötkreatur på den östafrikanska landsbygden

Sammanfattning: Tuberculosis is one of many infectious diseases in the world and is responsible for a large number of human deaths each year. The cause is Mycobacterium ssp included in the tuberculosis-complex, there among Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Infection with M. bovis causes bovine tuberculosis in cattle which in 90 % has a pulmonary location. Humans are infected mainly by milk from infected cows but also by close contact with coughing animals or by eating raw meat. Humans generally develop so called extrapulmonary tuberculosis due to the alimentary route of infection. In Ethiopia 16 % of all reported cases of tuberculosis, both pulmonary and extrapulmonary, is known to be caused by M. bovis. In the same region, 34 % of human tuberculosis cases reported is of extrapulmonary type.The prevalence of M. bovis in cattle in east Africa is low, though 67-88 % of the villages have at least one test-positive individual. The prevalence is elevated with increased trade with cattle and contact with wild animals. Though, it is thought to maintain at a low level due to unfavorable environment for the bacteria where altitude may play a part. The domestic breed zebu is also thought to be more resistant of the infection compared with other breeds.The main factor known to increase the risk of infection in humans is the lack of knowledge of primarily food hygiene. Of the people in rural areas, 40 % practice a way of living that exposes them for the disease. Other factors contributing to an augmented risk of bovine tuberculosis in humans is other immunosuppressive infections, where HIV and M. tuberculosis are known to make people more susceptible.