“Mind the Gap” – Bridging Our Knowledge of Animal and Human Tuberculosis

Prof Michele Miller, Stellenbosch University, South Africa

Animal tuberculosis, caused by one of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex members, has routinely been researched, diagnosed, and managed separately from human tuberculosis. However, pathogen characteristics, as well as certain aspects of TB epidemiology and pathogenesis, are similar. Yet there continue to be significant knowledge gaps, especially in countries with high human and animal TB burdens, regarding the risk of transmission and disease in multi-host systems. Closer collaborations and incorporation of multi-disciplinary approaches are needed to determine the relative contributions of the environment, domestic and wild animals, and humans in maintaining and spreading mycobacterial infections. Incorporating tools and knowledge from the human and animal TB fields has facilitated progress in understanding TB at a systems level, which provides a more holistic view, rather a species-specific one. This approach addresses the priorities outlined in the WHO/FAO/OIE “Roadmap for Zoonotic Tuberculosis”, while using resources more productively to fill knowledge gaps. This will further add to our understanding and provide information for strategies to address future influences, such as climate change, on disease. This presentation will highlight examples of One Health TB research being conducted in South Africa on domestic and wild animals, environmental sources, and interfaces with human communities. The knowledge generated will contribute to improved TB management and control strategies.