Mycobacterium bovis Strains Causing Smear-Positive Human Tuberculosis, Southwest Ireland

Abstract

Mycobacterium bovis caused 3% of human tuberculosis cases in southwest Ireland during 1998–2006. Of 11 M. bovis strains genotyped, 9 belonged to common animal spoligotypes. Seven strains were from sputum and potential sources of human-centered disease transmission. Ten-locus variable-number tandem repeat typing gave unique strain profiles and would detect disease outbreaks.

Keywords

• Mycobacterium bovis
• tuberculosis
• molecular epidemiology
• respiratory tract infections
• dispatch
• Ireland