U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research: Ames, IA
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    CareersSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Midwest Area Ames, Iowa National Animal Disease Center Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            ALEXANDER, KATHLEEN - Virginia Techitem
                                            SANDERSON, CLAIRE - Virginia Techitem
                                            LARSEN, MICHELLE - Albert Einstein College Of Medicineitem
                                            ROBBE-AUSTERMAN, SUELEE - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)item
                                            WILLIAMS, MARK - University Of Pretoriaitem
                                            Palmer, Mitchell
  Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
                                    Publication Type: Abstract Only
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2016
                                    Publication  Date: 5/10/2016
                                    Citation: Alexander, K.A., Sanderson, C.E., Larsen, M.H., Robbe-Austerman, S., Williams, M.C., Palmer, M.V. 2016. Emerging tuberculosis pathogen hijacks social communication behavior in the group-living banded mongoose (Mungos mungo). Ecological Society of America (ESA). 7(3):e00281-16. doi:10.1128/mBio.00281-16.DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.00281-16                                                              
                                Interpretive Summary: An emerging Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MtbC) pathogen, M. mungi, was identified in wild banded mongooses (Mungos mungo) in Northern Botswana causing significant mortality. This MtbC pathogen did not appear to be transmitted through a primary aerosol or oral route. We utilized histopathology, spoligotyping, MIRU-VNTR, qPCR, and molecular markers for MtbC regions of difference (RD), including the newly characterized mongoose-specific deletion, RD1mon to demonstrate presence of M. mungi DNA and investigate pathogen invasion and exposure mechanisms. M. mungi DNA was identified in 29% of nasal planum samples (n=52), 56% of nasal rinses and swabs (n=9), 53% of oral swabs (n=19), 22% of urine samples (n=23), 33% of anal gland tissue (n=18), and 39% of anal gland secretions (n=44). Low cycle threshold values with qPCR in anal gland and nasal planum indicate high M. mungi bacterial burden in these tissues. Histopathology data were consistent with these results, suggesting pathogen invasion through breaks in the nasal planum and/or skin, areas of the mongoose in frequent contact with anal gland secretions and urine during olfactory communication behavior. Lesions in the lung occurred only with disseminated disease. No environmental sources of M. mungi DNA could be found.  We report environmental transmission of an MtbC pathogen in association with olfactory behavior, suggesting greater plasticity in this clonally evolving group of organisms than originally thought.
                                Technical Abstract: An emerging Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MtbC) pathogen, M. mungi, was identified in wild banded mongooses (Mungos mungo) in Northern Botswana causing significant mortality. This MtbC pathogen did not appear to be transmitted through a primary aerosol or oral route. We utilized histopathology, spoligotyping, MIRU-VNTR, qPCR, and molecular markers for MtbC regions of difference (RD), including the newly characterized mongoose-specific deletion, RD1mon to demonstrate presence of M. mungi DNA and investigate pathogen invasion and exposure mechanisms. M. mungi DNA was identified in 29% of nasal planum samples (n=52), 56% of nasal rinses and swabs (n=9), 53% of oral swabs (n=19), 22% of urine samples (n=23), 33% of anal gland tissue (n=18), and 39% of anal gland secretions (n=44). Low cycle threshold values with qPCR in anal gland and nasal planum indicate high M. mungi bacterial burden in these tissues. Histopathology data were consistent with these results, suggesting pathogen invasion through breaks in the nasal planum and/or skin, areas of the mongoose in frequent contact with anal gland secretions and urine during olfactory communication behavior. Lesions in the lung occurred only with disseminated disease. No environmental sources of M. mungi DNA could be found.  We report environmental transmission of an MtbC pathogen in association with olfactory behavior, suggesting greater plasticity in this clonally evolving group of organisms than originally thought.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov