Over a period of five years, cases of tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium pinnipedii have been documented in a range of captive species—including a South American sea lion, a Bactrian camel, and Malayan tapirs—housed in two zoological gardens. The two facilities involved in the cases were interconnected due to the transfer of one of the Malayan tapirs, highlighting a potential route of transmission between the zoos.
The infections were diagnosed through a combination of conventional bacteriological methods and molecular testing techniques. These advanced diagnostic procedures confirmed that M. pinnipedii, a member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex typically associated with marine mammals such as seals and sea lions, was the causative agent in the reported cases.
Though rare in non-marine mammals, M. pinnipedii has demonstrated the capability to infect a wider range of hosts, raising concerns about zoonotic transmission and the movement of animals between institutions. The affected zoos took measures to investigate the source and transmission pathways, though specific epidemiological details were not disclosed.
This multi-species outbreak underscores the importance of rigorous health monitoring, biosecurity measures, and coordinated disease control protocols in zoological settings, especially when dealing with pathogens capable of crossing species barriers. Further research into the ecology and host range of M. pinnipedii is recommended to prevent future occurrences and to better understand the risk to both animal and human health.
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