Nicanor Obaldía1, Marlon Nuñez2, Santiago Montilla2, William Otero3, Jose Camilo Marin4. 1. Center for the Evaluation of Antimalarial Drugs and Vaccines, Tropical Medicine Research/Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panama, Panama; Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard | T.H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Parasitology, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panama, Panama. Electronic address: nobaldia@gorgas.gob.pa. 2. Department of Parasitology, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panama, Panama. 3. Center for the Evaluation of Antimalarial Drugs and Vaccines, Tropical Medicine Research/Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panama, Panama. 4. Center for the Evaluation of Antimalarial Drugs and Vaccines, Tropical Medicine Research/Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panama, Panama; Department of Parasitology, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panama, Panama.
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is a devastating and terminal disease in non-human primates (NHPs). Regular TB screenings using the intradermal tuberculin test (TST) have been the mainstay of TB surveillance and control in NHPs. Historically, Aotus monkeys have been considered less susceptible to TB than other NHPs. Here we present the diagnosis and epidemiology of a TB outbreak at The Gorgas Memorial Institute Aotus colony in Panama, and the results of two cross-sectional randomized TB screening studies, using antibody (Ab) and IFN-gamma release assay testing. RESULTS: Epidemiological and spatial analysis confirmed that the outbreak was the result of a continuing intermittent exposure, with human to monkey transmission as the most likely source. During the outbreak that lasted five months (January-June 2015), Mycobacterium kansassi and MTB were isolated from lung caseous granulomas in 1/7 and 3/7 TB suspicious animals respectively. Furthermore, MTB was detected by qRT-PCR in formalin fixed lung and liver granulomas in 2/7 and 1/6 monkeys respectively, suggesting an aerosol route of infection. Likewise, a random sample that included 63 / 313 adult (>2 year-old) monkeys, screened for latent TB with the Primagam® IFN-gamma release assay, between March-May, 2016, were all non-reactors; indicating that the outbreak was self-limiting and the colony was likely free or latent TB infection. Control measures included, quarantine, disinfection and TST screening of all personnel. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that Aotus are highly susceptible to TB, therefore, TB prevention measures should be strictly enforced in Aotus monkey colonies.
Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is a devastating and terminal disease in non-human primates (NHPs). Regular TB screenings using the intradermal tuberculin test (TST) have been the mainstay of TB surveillance and control in NHPs. Historically, Aotus monkeys have been considered less susceptible to TB than other NHPs. Here we present the diagnosis and epidemiology of a TB outbreak at The Gorgas Memorial Institute Aotus colony in Panama, and the results of two cross-sectional randomized TB screening studies, using antibody (Ab) and IFN-gamma release assay testing. RESULTS: Epidemiological and spatial analysis confirmed that the outbreak was the result of a continuing intermittent exposure, with human to monkey transmission as the most likely source. During the outbreak that lasted five months (January-June 2015), Mycobacterium kansassi and MTB were isolated from lung caseous granulomas in 1/7 and 3/7 TB suspicious animals respectively. Furthermore, MTB was detected by qRT-PCR in formalin fixed lung and liver granulomas in 2/7 and 1/6 monkeys respectively, suggesting an aerosol route of infection. Likewise, a random sample that included 63 / 313 adult (>2 year-old) monkeys, screened for latent TB with the Primagam® IFN-gamma release assay, between March-May, 2016, were all non-reactors; indicating that the outbreak was self-limiting and the colony was likely free or latent TB infection. Control measures included, quarantine, disinfection and TST screening of all personnel. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that Aotus are highly susceptible to TB, therefore, TB prevention measures should be strictly enforced in Aotus monkey colonies.
Authors: JoAnn L Yee; Kamm Prongay; Brodie Miles; Jeremy Smedley; Scott G Hansen; Michael K Axthelm; Amir Ardeshir; Koen K A Van Rompay; Gregory Timmel; Jeffrey A Roberts Journal: J Med Primatol Date: 2019-05-06 Impact factor: 0.667
Authors: Chandra Saravanan; Thierry Flandre; Carolyn L Hodo; Anne D Lewis; Lars Mecklenburg; Annette Romeike; Oliver C Turner; Hsi-Yu Yen Journal: ILAR J Date: 2020-12-31 Impact factor: 1.521