Transmission of tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium caprae between dairy sheep and goats

Increasing number of caprine tuberculosis (TB) reports grant the consideration of this zoonosis as an emerging disease that can play a role in the epidemiology of bovine TB in endemic areas. An outbreak of TB was detected in a caprine/ovine dairy mixed herd. Tuberculin skin test positive goats and ewes were euthanized and subsequent postmortem investigations were performed. Mycobacterium caprae (spoligotype profile SB0157) was isolated from tuberculous lesions detected in both sheep and goats. Our findings evidenced the direct transmission of the infection between both species elucidating that not only goats but also sheep may act as domestic reservoirs of TB compromising the eradication of TB in cattle. The results have implications for animal TB epidemiology and public health risk management.