TB

Question 1

Animal hosts of TB

Answer 1

All species, including humans, and age groups are susceptible to M. bovis, with cattle, goats, and pigs most susceptible and sheep and horses showing a high natural resistance. Wildlife reservoirs.

Question 2

Wildlife reservoirs of TB in the UK and US

Answer 2

UK: badger (Meles meles). Transmission by contamination of pasture/feeds with urine and feces. US: Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), white tailed deer (0. virginianus), elk (Cervus elaphus canadensis) and bison (Bison bison).

Question 3

Sources of infection of TB (cattle to cattle)

Answer 3

Organisms are excreted in the exhaled air, in sputum, feces (from both intestinal lesions and swallowed sputum from pulmonary lesions), milk, urine, vaginal and uterine discharges, and discharges from open peripheral lymph nodes.

Question 4

Treatment of TB in US

Answer 4

Regimens for treating TB disease have an intensive phase of 2 months, followed by a continuation phase of either 4 or 7 months (total of 6 to 9 months for treatment). >10 drugs approved by FDA. First-line anti-TB agents that form the core of treatment regimens are: - isoniazid (INH) - rifampin (RIF) - ethambutol (EMB) - pyrazinamide (PZA)