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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Prevalence of Mycobacterium bovis in agroecosystems : analysis of potential environmental reservoirs (soil, fresh water, soil fauna and aquatic fauna) and circulation of the bacteria between the different environmental compartments

subject

description

Bovine tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis. This disease affects cattle, and many species of domestic and wild mammals, and humans. The circulation of the bacteria in various multi-host systems promotes the maintenance of the disease and the contamination of cattle in the vicinity. Beside direct transmission of the bacteria through the respiratory route, indirect transmission, through inhalation or ingestion of environmental matrices contaminated by an infected animal excretory, is suspected in several countries. Environmental contamination with M. bovis appears to be a crucial factor in the persistence of the infection in multi-host systems. In Côte d'Or, a French department affected by bovine tuberculosis since 2004, the indirect transmission of the bacteria from infected wildlife to cattle is suspected in several cases. To assess this type of transmission of the bacillus, we evaluated the environmental contamination with M. bovis on a large number of samples taken in areas shared by cattle and / or wildlife infected. For this purpose, we developed or modified molecular detection systems adapted for environmental complex matrices. We also assessed the impact of physicochemical properties of both soil and temperature on survival of M. bovis and the role of earthworms in the spread of the bacteria from contaminated organic material. The environmental study showed the contamination of two media in particular: wetlands pastures and soil badger setts. Moreover, experimental studies have shown that M. bovis can survive in soil for several months at 4 ° C and the worms could spread the bacteria in the soil, or even play a potential role for vector animals that consume them. These results will propose improvements to existing biosecurity measures on cattle farms and provide new knowledge about the persistence and circulation of M. bovis in the environment in Côte d'Or.