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Background: Tuberculosis (TB) due to Mycobacterium caprae is endemic in goat herds and free-ranging wild boars in Spain, causing infections in other livestock or wild animals to a lesser extent. TB infection in foxes is infrequently reported and they are usually considered spillover hosts of TB., Case Presentation: A blind, depressed and severely emaciated red fox (Vulpes vulpes) was admitted to a rehabilitation center. After clinical examination it was humanely sacrificed. At necropsy, generalized TB lesions were observed that were subsequently confirmed by histopathology along with a co-infection with canine distemper virus. M. caprae was isolated from mycobacterial culture and spoligotype SB0415 was identified. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of the isolated M. caprae was carried out and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were compared with other sequences of M. caprae isolated from livestock and wildlife of the same area throughout the last decade., Conclusions: This is the first reported case of TB due to M. caprae in a fox in the Iberian Peninsula. WGS and SNP analysis, together with spatial-temporal investigations, associated this case with recent M. caprae outbreaks in cattle and goat herds of the area. The results indicated transmission of M. caprae between livestock and the fox, suggesting that this species may occasionally play a role in the epidemiology of animal TB., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Tuberculosis (TB) in wildlife challenges epidemiological surveillance and disease control. An outbreak of TB was detected in a free-ranging wild boar population of a Natural Park in Catalonia (Spain) and the outbreak investigation was conducted in the area. During the study period (2015-2020), 278 wild boars were analysed by gross pathology, histopathology, mycobacterial culture and DVR-spoligotyping. In addition, all cattle (49) and goat (47) herds of the area were tested with tuberculin skin test. TB compatible lesions were detected in 21 wild boars, and Mycobacterium caprae was isolated in 17 of them with two different spoligotypes: SB0415 (13) and SB1908 (4). Only two goat herds showed TB positive animals that were subsequently slaughtered. M. caprae with the spoligotypes SB0416 and SB0415 were isolated from these animals. To investigate the phylogenetic relationships and the transmission chain of the outbreak, nine strains isolated from six wild boars and three goats of the study area were analysed by whole genome sequencing (WGS) followed by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis by maximum likelihood and median-joining network inference methods. Results indicated that infected wild boars maintained M. caprae strains circulation in their own population and have likely transmitted the infection to goats, thus acting as TB reservoirs, compromising the success of livestock TB eradication campaigns and posing a risk for public health. The results also highlighted the usefulness of WGS followed by SNP analysis in providing relevant epidemiological information when detailed contact data are missing., (© 2020 The Authors. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Mycobacterium microti is a member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex that causes pathology in many mammals. M. microti infections have been found in some countries in Europe. We report an outbreak of tuberculosis caused by M. microti in wild boars in Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]