Mycobacteria are a group of microorganisms with defined characteristics. They are widely distributed, being some species strictly pathogenic while others are opportunistic pathogens. Some others are exclusive from the environment, being found in water and soil. According to their capacity to produce disease, they can be classified in mycobacteria causing tuberculosis in mammals, within the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC), or non-tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM). These bacteria may infect livestock, companion animals, wildlife and human beings. Thus, mycobacteria are involved in multiple sectors, which, in order to address tangible solutions, converge in actions that promote strategies that consider the human-animal-environment interface and combine multidisciplinary efforts need to be performed. This requires that the problem is approached with an integrated “One Health” perspective. Coordinated actions and cooperation among the different sectors will allow for a comprehensive approach to several direct and indirect problems associated with the mycobacterial infections of veterinary interest.
In Veterinary sciences, mycobacteria cause concern due to their impact on animal health, the direct and indirect economic losses, and the threat to the conservation of endangered wildlife species and for the zoonotic transmission risk. Intensive production systems cause contamination of the environment, enhancing the epidemiological cycle of transmission.
The advance of agricultural and livestock areas over natural regions, enables interspecies transmission, and the insertion and maintenance of the infection in the ecosystems. Zoonotic infections are mainly associated with occupational hazard groups with close contact with livestock, domestic and wild animals. In addition, this is favored in a context of socio-economic vulnerability or by cultural practices, such as the consumption of infected food. Mycobacterial infections are dynamic. Here lies the importance of fulfilling an accurate diagnosis, to initiate specific treatments avoiding antibiotic resistance. This will allow the establishment of management measures regarding the biosafety during medical or veterinary practices and, thus protecting workers ́ health. Furthermore, the increase of M. tuberculosis in vulnerable human populations is being reflected by the increase of reverse-zoonotic case notification, especially in companion animals.
For all stated above and considering the importance of the topics related with this thematic, we invite you to participate in this Research Topic to increase knowledge about all the aspects mentioned. All types of articles offered in the “Frontiers in Veterinary Sciences” Journal page are welcome. You are invited to share your contributions related to the following areas:
- Research regarding Mycobacteria of Veterinary Concern in Livestock, companion and
wild animals, including drug resistance, vaccine strategies, diagnostic and epidemiological studies.
- Public and animal health issues, including National Control and Eradication programs, actions applied towards the control of the disease and education.
- Environmental and non-tuberculous Mycobacteria and their implications in human and animal health
- Zoonosis and reverse-zoonosis control and prevention strategies.
Keywords:
mycobacteria, Zoonosis, tuberculosis, mycobacteriosis, veterinary, One Health, Education, Eradication and control, drug resistance, epidemiology, reverse-zoonosis, environment, diagnosis, vaccine, livestock, wild animals
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
Mycobacteria are a group of microorganisms with defined characteristics. They are widely distributed, being some species strictly pathogenic while others are opportunistic pathogens. Some others are exclusive from the environment, being found in water and soil. According to their capacity to produce disease, they can be classified in mycobacteria causing tuberculosis in mammals, within the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC), or non-tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM). These bacteria may infect livestock, companion animals, wildlife and human beings. Thus, mycobacteria are involved in multiple sectors, which, in order to address tangible solutions, converge in actions that promote strategies that consider the human-animal-environment interface and combine multidisciplinary efforts need to be performed. This requires that the problem is approached with an integrated “One Health” perspective. Coordinated actions and cooperation among the different sectors will allow for a comprehensive approach to several direct and indirect problems associated with the mycobacterial infections of veterinary interest.
In Veterinary sciences, mycobacteria cause concern due to their impact on animal health, the direct and indirect economic losses, and the threat to the conservation of endangered wildlife species and for the zoonotic transmission risk. Intensive production systems cause contamination of the environment, enhancing the epidemiological cycle of transmission.
The advance of agricultural and livestock areas over natural regions, enables interspecies transmission, and the insertion and maintenance of the infection in the ecosystems. Zoonotic infections are mainly associated with occupational hazard groups with close contact with livestock, domestic and wild animals. In addition, this is favored in a context of socio-economic vulnerability or by cultural practices, such as the consumption of infected food. Mycobacterial infections are dynamic. Here lies the importance of fulfilling an accurate diagnosis, to initiate specific treatments avoiding antibiotic resistance. This will allow the establishment of management measures regarding the biosafety during medical or veterinary practices and, thus protecting workers ́ health. Furthermore, the increase of M. tuberculosis in vulnerable human populations is being reflected by the increase of reverse-zoonotic case notification, especially in companion animals.
For all stated above and considering the importance of the topics related with this thematic, we invite you to participate in this Research Topic to increase knowledge about all the aspects mentioned. All types of articles offered in the “Frontiers in Veterinary Sciences” Journal page are welcome. You are invited to share your contributions related to the following areas:
- Research regarding Mycobacteria of Veterinary Concern in Livestock, companion and
wild animals, including drug resistance, vaccine strategies, diagnostic and epidemiological studies.
- Public and animal health issues, including National Control and Eradication programs, actions applied towards the control of the disease and education.
- Environmental and non-tuberculous Mycobacteria and their implications in human and animal health
- Zoonosis and reverse-zoonosis control and prevention strategies.
Keywords:
mycobacteria, Zoonosis, tuberculosis, mycobacteriosis, veterinary, One Health, Education, Eradication and control, drug resistance, epidemiology, reverse-zoonosis, environment, diagnosis, vaccine, livestock, wild animals
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.