Characterisation of Mycobacterium Bovis Strains Isolated from Farm and Wild Animals in Poland

Sixty-one isolates of M. bovis (58 from cattle and three from wild animals) from eight regions of Poland were analysed. Molecular analysis was done using HAIN and spoligotyping methods. Drug susceptibility of the isolates to streptomycin, izoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide was tested by proportional methods on solid and liquid media. By spoligotyping, 47 (77%) isolates were identified as M. bovis subsp. bovis and 14 (23%) isolates were identified as M. bovis subsp. caprae. Eleven animals of the domestic cattle (18%) and all wild animals were infected by M. bovis subsp. caprae. Among cattle infected by M. bovis, 12 spoligotypes were identified, most of them not registered in the SpolDB4 database. The strains isolated from 15 animals of the domestic cattle were the same spoligo pattern. In conclusion, transmission of mycobacteria among the farm and wild animals has been suspected.