Tuberculosis: an emerging zoonosis.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis in animals Humans have had a very close association with animals for millennia, utilising them for food, labour, transport, clothing, companionship, disability assistance, recreation, sport, religious and cultural icons, security, entertainment and research and in rescue, rehabilitation and conservation efforts. It is inevitable then that as a result of this close association, transmission of pathogens from humans to animals and vice versa will occur. M. tuberculosis infections have been reported in a wide range of animal species including: elephants, non-human primates, rhinoceroses, tapir, various non-domestic ungulates, seals, various non-domestic carnivores, dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, cattle and birds. Susceptibility to infection withM. tuberculosis varies significantly between animal taxonomic groups, with species such as old world monkeys, lesser apes, elephants, hamsters and guinea pigs being highly susceptible; great apes, new world monkeys, canids, seals, tapir, rhinoceroses, pigs, rats and mice are moderately susceptible; and prosimians, felids, equids, ungulates, rabbits, birds and reptiles have low susceptibility. The susceptibility for many species is unknown. Animals are generally considered to acquire infection from humans with active TB, however animal-to-animal transmission also occurs, including between different species.