Mycobacterium bovis infection in humans exposed to elk in Alberta.

The evidence of zoonotic transmission of M. bovis infection in the 1 veterinarian is confirmed by growth of the organism from his sputum 6 months after animal contact. The high rate of initial tuberculin reactivity and the skin test conversions of 6 persons in contact with culture-positive animals strongly suggest that further human infection has taken place. However, the lack of baseline testing on 48/81 test-positive individuals and the relatively high proportion of immigrants in some occupational groups makes it impossible to determine the extent of reactivity and infection that can be attributed to handling diseased elk. The method of spread is likely by aerosolization of infected particles produced from the cough of live animals, or by the housing of infected material in the rendering plant or postmortem laboratory. Although isoniazid prophylaxis has not been demonstrated to be protective against M. bovis reactivation disease, it seems reasonable to offer the drug to those contacts who are newly infected. Follow-up of human contacts of animal tuberculosis must be carried out.