Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) detection in a beetal goat from Assam

Abstract

In the genus of Mycobacterium which has recently been reclassified into four different genera, Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the best known pathogen known to cause Tuberculosis (TB) mainly in humans and also in animals. Zoonotic tuberculosis is primarily caused by Mycobacterium bovis while the genetically related other members of these group known as the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex (MTC) comprising of M. caprae, M. africanum, M. pinnipedii, M. canetti, M. mungi, M. microti and M. orygis causes TB in several other animal species and human. A carcass of 3 year old female goat was presented in our department which was subjected for post mortem examination. The carcass was in debilitated and cachectic condition. During necropsy the lungs revealed grayish white nodular growths of various sizes. Impression smears from the cut surfaces of the nodules revealed acid fast bacilli with Ziehl Neelsen staining. Histopathology of the lung showed typical tuberculous granulomatous lesion. The tissue was subjected to molecular analysis by amplification ofhsp65 gene (441 bp) for Mycobacterium Genus confirmation. Further, IS6110 region was targeted (123bp) for confirmation of the MTC group.