title: Mycobacterium microti tuberculosis in its maintenance host, the field vole (Microtus agrestis): characterization of the disease and possible routes of transmission.
abstract: The field vole (Microtus agrestis) is a known maintenance host of Mycobacterium microti. Previous studies have shown that infected animals develop tuberculosis. However, the disease is also known in cats and is sporadically reported from humans and other mammalian species. We examined trapped field voles from an endemic area, using a range of diagnostic approaches. These confirmed that a combination of gross and histological examination with culture is most appropriate to identify the true prevalence of the disease, which was shown to be more than 13% at times when older animals that have previously been shown to be more likely to develop the disease dominate the population. The thorough pathological examination of diseased animals showed that voles generally develop systemic disease with most frequent involvement of spleen and liver, followed by skin, lymph nodes, and lungs. The morphology of the lesions was consistent with active disease, and their distribution suggested skin wounds or oral and/or aerogenic infection as the main portal of entry. The demonstration of mycobacteria in open skin lesions, airways, and salivary glands indicated bacterial shedding from the skin and with sputum and saliva. This suggests not only the environment but also direct contact and devouring as likely sources of infection.
authors: Veterinary Pathology, School of Veterinary Science and Department of Infection Biology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, UK Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland Pathology Department, Veterinary College, University of Azzutona, Tarhouna, Libya akipar@liverpool.ac.uk.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Kipar
authors: NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Penicuik, Edinburgh, UK.
authors: S J
authors: SJ
authors: Burthe
authors: Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors: U
authors: U
authors: Hetzel
authors: Veterinary Pathology, School of Veterinary Science and Department of Infection Biology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, UK Pathology Department, Veterinary College, University of Azzutona, Tarhouna, Libya.
authors: M Abo
authors: MA
authors: Rokia
authors: School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Telfer
authors: School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
authors: X
authors: X
authors: Lambin
authors: School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, UK.
authors: R J
authors: RJ
authors: Birtles
authors: Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Begon
authors: National Centre for Zoonosis Research, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Bennett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000382:microbiology*; D002415:Cats; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000635:transmission; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Mycobacterium microti; field vole (Microtus agrestis); pathogenesis; transmission; tuberculosis