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One Health approach in the prevention and control of mycobacterial infections in Tanzania: lessons learnt and future perspectives

One Health Outlook volume 1, Article number: 2 (2019) Cite this article

Abstract

Background

One Health (OH) is an integrated approach, formed inclusive of using multiple disciplines to attain optimal health for humans, animals, and the environment. The increasing proximity between humans, livestock, and wildlife, and its role in the transmission dynamics of mycobacterial infections, necessitates an OH approach in the surveillance of zoonotic diseases. The challenge remains as humans, livestock, and wildlife share resources and interact at various interfaces. Therefore, this review explores the potential of the OH approach to understand the impact of mycobacterial infections in Tanzania in terms of lessons learnt and future perspectives.

Materials and methods

Available literature on OH and mycobacterial infections in Tanzania was searched in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. Articles on mycobacterial infections in Tanzania, published between 1997 to 2017, were retrieved to explore the information on OH and mycobacterial infections.

Main body

The studies conducted in Tanzania had have reported a wide diversity of mycobacterial species in humans and animals, which necessitates an OH approach in surveillance of diseases for better control of infectious agents and to safeguard the health of humans and animals. The close proximity between humans and animals increases the chances of inter-specific transmission of infectious pathogens, including drug-resistant mycobacteria. In an era where HIV co-infection is also the case, opportunistic infection by environmental non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), commonly known as mycobacteria other than tuberculosis (MOTT) may further exacerbate the impact of drug resistance. NTM from various sources have greatest potential for diverse strains among which are resistant strains due to continued evolutional changes.

Conclusion

A collaborative interdisciplinary approach among professionals could help in solving the threats posed by mycobacterial infections to public health, particularly by the spread of drug-resistant strains.

Background

The One Health (OH) concept is a recent iteration of the One Medicine concept that was first established in the 19th and 20th centuries using the term coined by Calvin W. Schwabe (1927–2006) [1]. The OH concept was introduced as a role model in disease surveillance through an integrated approach adopted by medical, veterinary, and environmental practitioners. OH is a deliberate attempt to deviate from the traditional, narrow-disciplinary approach, to a more holistic, integrated approach that requires multidisciplinary input [2] and serves as a tool in solving complex issues such as food safety, microbial resistance to antibiotics, climate change, and wildlife conservation [3]. This is particularly important in low-income countries, where resources are limited, but there is a vast array of issues to address.

The OH concept gained momentum in 2003 during the avian influenza pandemic threat (HPAI-H5N1) that killed 339 people and caused a global economic loss of an estimated USD 20 billion [4]. The lessons learnt from the HPAI-H5N1 pandemic called for professional collaboration in response to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases at local and international levels [3]. The Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance (SACIDS), a regional consortium of academic and research institutions in Eastern Africa, in partnership with academic institutions in South Africa and the United Kingdom, focuses on the OH concept in response to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases at local and international levels [3]. The African continent faces a threat from emerging or re-emerging pathogens, infectious diseases of epidemic nature that may occur in endemic form, and the persistence of endemic tropical diseases that are often neglected. Furthermore, considering that the majority of infectious diseases in humans can be traced to an animal origin, Rweyemamu et al. [5, 6] have advocated OH as the most cost-effective approach for the risk management of infectious diseases in Africa. Thus, the concept of OH is clearly applicable to mycobacterial infections that have gravely threatened human and animal health at a global level.

This review seeks to address the mycobacterial infection and challenges associated with its control and diagnosis through One Health approach. Further, it highlights the disease situation, lesson learnt and future perspectives in the control and prevention of mycobacterial infection in Tanzania.

The OH approach in surveillance of mycobacterial infections in Tanzania

Disease surveillance using the OH approach has recently been a subject of immense interest due to the emergence of infectious diseases that might be caused by close proximity between animals and humans. The genus Mycobacterium, consisting of more than 150 well-characterized species, infects both humans and animals [1, 7, 8]. All the members of this genus appear similar on staining for the detection of acid-fast bacilli (AFB) [8], are aerobic, non-spore formers, non-motile, and rod shaped [9, 10]. Mycobacterial infections have received a great attention due to their ubiquitous distribution and ability to infect a wide range of hosts [1]. Their widespread nature and importance in public health emphasize the need for information sharing and active collaboration between experts from a variety of disciplines [1]. The tuberculous mycobacteria (M. tuberculosis complex), comprising of M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. bovis BCG, M. canettii, M. africanum, M. pinnipedii, M. microti, M. caprae, (the dassie and the oryx bacillus), and the recently discovered M. mungi, are known to be causative agents of tuberculosis in animals and humans. However, non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), also known as environmental mycobacteria, have gained importance in recent years due to the emergence of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Other mycobacterial species, including M. leprae, M. ulcerans, and M. paratuberculosis, also pose a threat to public health.

The public health importance of the genus Mycobacterium is based on its role as the causative agent of zoonotic diseases, including tuberculosis in animals (bovine tuberculosis) and humans. Katale et al. [11] tested the hypothesis as to whether the close proximity between humans and animals might have contributed to the cross-species transmission of tuberculosis. This hypothesis was driven by anthropogenic changes, which might have contributed to disease emergence at human-animal interface areas. Changes in the flow of pathogens due to anthropogenic changes have direct and indirect effects on the numbers of susceptible or exposed individuals, or cause increased infectivity [12]. Recently, studies in the human-animal interface areas in Tanzania have reported a relatively low prevalence of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in indigenous cattle [11, 13]. However, despite the low prevalence of bTB in these interface areas, the authors predicted possibilities for the cross-species transmission of bTB among the interacting hosts, because of poor knowledge among livestock keepers on the transmission dynamics of bTB between wildlife, livestock, and humans [11].

M. tuberculosis is primarily a human pathogen with a potential for infecting a wide range of hosts, including wild animals [14, 15] and livestock [16, 17]. In a cross-sectional study of tuberculosis infection that used the OH approach at the human-livestock-wildlife interface of the Serengeti ecosystem, the analysis of the genotype and phylogeographic distribution of M. tuberculosis strains isolated from humans revealed a variety of M. tuberculosis strains with the predominance of a few successful genotypes, namely, the Central-Asian-strain (CAS), T, Latin-American-Mediterranean (LAM) and East-African-Indian (EAI) families, indicating unlinked transmission chains [18]. These strains were thought to result from a gradually evolving M. tuberculosis population, rather than from imported strains [19]. This selective predominance of M. tuberculosis strains in Tanzania seems to co-exist with variations depending on the location of the samples within Tanzania. In the Tanga region of northern Tanzania, the EAI and CAS family genotypes appear to be predominant [20]. Furthermore, Eldholm et al. [19] reported that the human TB epidemic, that which is caused by a few successful M. tuberculosis families, is dominated by the CAS family in Dar es Salaam. Other TB strains recorded were LAM (22%) and EAI (17%). Beijing and T-family genotypes, as well as importation of strains, were suggested to be a minor problem. Nevertheless, despite the dominance of the CAS strain in Dar es Salaam and Tanzania in general, there were variations in the TB strains within M. tuberculosis families [19]. Although the Beijing lineage of M. tuberculosis has been reported to be found in low proportion [18, 19], its presence is of major concern as it has been said to be evolutionarily more associated with drug resistance [21, 22] and presents severe disease symptoms compared to the other lineages [23]. In addition, the LAM-TB family genotype, which has also been found in Tanzania, has been associated with drug resistance that can be attributed to the genetic background of particular strains favoring drug resistance or pre-existing disproportionate exposure to TB drugs of a particular TB family genotype [24]. The challenge with drug resistance is the fact that the genetics of observed drug resistance is more complex than previously expected [25].

Nearly all the TB strains identified all over the world have been isolated in East Africa [18], an indication of historical migrations that have occurred during the pre- and post-colonial rule. Historical movements due to international trade, increased movement of wild and domestic animals, and their interaction has contributed to the global spread of pathogenic organisms such as M. tuberculosis at an accelerated rate [1, 26, 27]. Likewise, the diversity of M. tuberculosis strains in different regions within Tanzania might be attributed to a cosmopolitan population with frequent migration and travel [18, 20]. This spread could also be explained by the ancestral Afro-Asian trade networks existing from a long time [28].

M. bovis is a multi-host pathogen capable of infecting a wide range of hosts including humans [29]. Such broad-spectrum pathogens tend to pose a greater epidemiological threat than the more specialized ones [30]. In Tanzania, studies on M. bovis infections in animals have been conducted using the single comparative intradermal tuberculin test (SCITT) [11, 13, 31,32,33,34,35], gamma interferon assay [36], and molecular diagnostic techniques such as spacer oligotyping, mycobacterium interspersed repetitive units-variable number of tandem repeats (MIRU-VNTR) [13, 37, 38], and competitive enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) [39]. The molecular characterization of M. bovis isolated from the human-animal interface areas indicated no clear evidence for recent cross-species transmission of M. bovis between humans, livestock, and wild animals in Tanzania [37]. However, it was observed that bTB infections in wild animals and cattle were epidemiologically related [37]. In a recent study, Katale et al. [37] reported that M. bovis isolates belonging to the SB0133 spoligotype isolated from wildlife had 45.2 and 96.8% spoligotype pattern agreement with novel SB2290 and SB2289 strains from indigenous cattle, respectively [37]. The SB2290 novel spoligotype isolated from indigenous cattle differed from spoligotypes found in buffalo and African civet by the loss of a single spacer, indicating the epidemiological relationship of M. bovis at the livestock-wildlife interface. This association could mean that wild animals acquire M. bovis infection from domestic animals rather than vice versa, as strains with more spacers are evolutionarily older than those with few spacers. Moreover, it was suggested that there was a spillback of M. bovis infection from wild animal reservoirs to livestock, or micro-evolutionary events of M. bovis in cattle populations in the ecosystem. It could also be argued that the observed genetic structure of M. bovis resulted from evolutionary events taking place in cattle populations outside the study area, possibly where the prevalence of the disease was higher and that the M. bovis strains were merely imported into cattle and wild animal populations in the Serengeti ecosystem [37]. Therefore, wild animals in their ecosystems were at risk of acquiring M. bovis infection due to occasional interactions such as sharing of pasture and water sources with livestock. Similarly, livestock could acquire infections from wild animals that may be reservoirs of certain transmissible diseases [13, 40]. In 2013, Mwakapuja and colleagues found SB1467 to be the dominant spoligotype isolated from indigenous cattle at the livestock/wildlife interface areas in the Morogoro region of eastern Tanzania [13]. The authors also found that the SB2190 novel spoligotype isolated from indigenous cattle was 59.4% related to SB0133, which was the predominant spoligotype in the East African countries.

Previous studies conducted in Tanzania had have reported a variety of atypical mycobacteria in culture isolates from humans [41, 42] and animals [43, 44], indicating the diversity of NTM species, some of which were capable of causing diseases in animals and humans. The differences in species distribution may partly determine the frequency and manifestation of pulmonary NTM disease at each geographical location [45]. In Tanzania, several NTM species, including M. gordonae, M. interjectum, M. intracelullare, M. sherrisii, M. avium. spp., and M. fortuitum have been found in humans [20, 41, 46], while M. simiae, M. confluentis, M. neoaurum, M. nonchromogenicum, M. terrae, M. thermoresistibile, M. genavense, M. gilvum, M. intermedium, M. poriferae, M. spaghni, M. kansasii, M. gastri, M. indicus pranii, M. hibernae, M. engbaekii, M. septicum, M. arupense, M. peregrinum, M. moriokaense, M. palustre, M. goodie, M. gordonae, M. smegmatis, M. fortuitum, M. phlei, M. flavescens, and M. avium intracellulare have been isolated from indigenous cattle [34, 41, 44] and M. lentiflavum and M. intracellulare have been reported in wildlife species [41]. However, Hoefsloot et al. [45] reported that mycobacteria of the M. avium complex (MAC) were predominant in most of the countries, followed by M. gordonae and M. xenopi. Mwikuma et al. [47] also found a diverse range of NTM species with a predominance of M. intracellulare, which causes disease in immunocompromised as well as immunocompetent subjects [48]. The members of NTM induce progressive pulmonary diseases in older persons, superficial lymphadenitis, disseminated disease in severely immunocompromised patients, and skin and soft tissue infections [49]. In northern Tanzania, lymphadenitis in TB infections due to NTM was reported in 31 (47.7%) patients, compared to 7 (10.8%) M. bovis patients and 27 (41.5%) M. tuberculosis patients [50]. It is worth mentioning that some of the NTM have potential health devastating effects [46], both in healthy and immunocompromised individuals. For example, invasive NTM infections due to M. sherrisii and M. avium complex sequevar M. avium complex-D have been diagnosed in HIV-infected patients in northern Tanzania [46].

In Tanzania, M. bovis has been isolated from human in cases of extrapulmonary tuberculosis [38, 50], livestock [13, 37, 51] and wildlife [37, 39], signifying threat of transmission of mycobacteria between livestock, wildlife and humans in the country. For instance, Mfinanga and colleagues found high proportion of atypical mycobacteria (31 (47.7%) in human as compared to 7 (10.8%) M. bovis, and 27 (41.5%) M. tuberculosis [50]. Further, Kazwala et al. [51], in their study in Mbeya region, Southern Highland Tanzania, investigated a total of 31 M. bovis isolate from cattle and five isolates from human, of which there was evidence of overlap between DNA fingerprints of M. bovis between cattle and human. However, the control and prevention of zoonotic infections including mycobacteria possess a challenge due to weak surveillance systems in our local settings attributed by lack of policies harmonization and limited resources for diseases control. Therefore, there is need for synergy of veterinary and medical policies in the control of tuberculosis in our local settings [51] to optimize the efforts to ensure there is a better response to disease threats. Further, governments should increase allocation of funds for surveillance, control and prevention of infectious zoonotic diseases to safeguard health for animals and humans.

Diagnosis and challenges associated with mycobacterial infections

The accurate diagnosis of mycobacterial species is complicated and an ongoing problem that has passed through a number of stages, from the testing of drug susceptibility in the mid–1980s, to use of nucleic-acid probes in the late 1980s, nucleic acid amplification (NAA) in the mid–1990s, and DNA sequencing at present [8]. The recently introduced molecular techniques are based on NAA tests that are used directly on clinical specimens and complemented by blood tests (QuantiFERON-TB, T-SPOT.TB test) that measure the IFN-γ released by stimulated T cells. These techniques reduce the time frame for TB diagnosis from weeks to days [52]. These newer molecular methods provide complementary information to conventional diagnostic techniques based on culture and microscopy, thus improving patient management [52].

The conventional microscopic examination, culture, and drug susceptibility testing (DST) of sputum samples are the most common diagnostic techniques for the detection of the genus Mycobacterium. In many countries, microscopic examination techniques help in the detection of M. tuberculosis, culture-based methods are the cornerstone for diagnosis of TB, and detection of drug resistant strains is the simplest method for the presumptive diagnosis of TB [53]. However, the conventional microscopic test, which detects the presence of acid-fast bacilli (AFB), is not useful for the identification of species of the genus Mycobacterium. Therefore, there is an urgent need for highly sensitive, specific, and rapid diagnostic techniques that can be performed at the point of care for the identification of M. tuberculosis and NTM disease. The WHO emphasizes TB disease to be resistant to pyrazinamide - one of the standard first-line medications used to treat TB with risk for patients being often misdiagnosed and receiving ineffective treatment being not uncommon. As such WHO proposes advocacy on developing strategies to improve food safety, developing capacity of the animal health sector to reduce the prevalence of TB in livestock and identification of key populations and risks pathways for transmission of zoonotic TB to break the chain of transmission [54]. Some NTM are relatively resistant to several of the first- and second-line TB drugs, thus making the accurate diagnosis and drug-susceptibility testing critical for the clinical management of NTM infection [55]. Timely and accurate identification of TB and NTM diseases could influence both therapy and epidemiology of TB and TB-like diseases [20]. The recent advent of whole genome sequencing (WGS) has improved our understanding of the transmission dynamics and identification of mycobacterial infections as well as their drug resistance mutations, which helps in early identification of the resistance profile of the infecting strain [53]. However, the use of WGS in developing countries is limited by factors such as high running costs and the possibility of its accommodation into pre-existing diagnostic frameworks [56]. Thus, several barriers such as high diagnostic costs and the absence of automated sequence analysis pipelines and supporting IT infrastructure limit the widespread adoption of WGS in developing countries [57].

Infections with mycobacteria are subjected to other challenges, including co-infection with other pathogens, development of drug resistance, and increased incidences of NTM infections both in immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals. Global incidences of mycobacterial infections have increased in recent decades due to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) pandemic. Co-infection by HIV and TB accelerates the decline of immunological functions, leading to subsequent death if left untreated [58]. HIV infection does not only increase susceptibility to TB but also predispose infection to NTM which further complicate TB diagnosis. Infections with NTM in AIDS patients are associated with increased morbidity and high rates of mortality [59]. In spite of access to active antiretroviral therapy (ART) for AIDS patients, the concurrent management of HIV/TB co-infection remains a challenge, due to adverse effects, drug interactions, and toxicities [60]. Conversely, the mechanisms leading to the breakdown of the immune defense in HIV-TB co-infected individuals are not well described [58, 59].

Lessons learnt and future perspective of OH initiatives in Tanzania

Disease epidemics of zoonotic nature including other agents than mycobacteria, can better be controlled and managed through joint OH multidisplinary approach. This has been learnt in epidemics such as Anthrax, Ebola, rabies and Rift Valley fever outbreaks where various key player involvement is necessary to put the situation under custody. The prevention and control of infectious diseases depend on the early recognition of the causative agents and a prompt response. Recently, a number of initiatives to address the various aspects of infectious disease in humans and animals have been established in Tanzania. For example, the SACIDS has been a role model for the surveillance of a variety of infectious diseases, including mycobacterial infections. It is worth noting that other OH initiatives such as One Health Central and Eastern Africa (OHCEA) and AfriqueOne have supported research activities that also focus on infectious diseases of humans and animals in Tanzania. Therefore, to advocate for the OH approach in disease surveillance, intersectoral collaboration among stakeholders, government sectors, and society are necessary to address the factors of health and well-being of humans and animals [61]. In East Africa, strengthening of the OH networks has been marked by the establishment of OH coordination units in the respective countries. This move has gained momentum due to the status of the East African countries as risk areas for infectious diseases such as Rift Valley Fever and avian influenza, as well as the detection of Ebola virus in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These OH coordination units will act as a bridge between the OH networks and their respective government ministries. For example, the OH unit established under ‘Disaster Management’ in the Prime Minister’s office in Tanzania will serve as a platform wherein all matters related to OH activities will be coordinated at all levels to ensure smooth communication and a rapid response by professionals during periods of epidemic and inter-epidemic. This is similar to Kenya, where the Zoonotic Unit linking the human and animal health departments is in place under the Ministries of Health and Livestock/Agriculture. Similarly, other OH networks have been established in countries such as India and South Africa, indicating acceptance of the OH concept in low and middle income countries [1]. Various regional disease surveillance programmes have been established for the joint control of shared disease calamities. For example, regional infectious disease surveillance bodies, such as the Connecting Organizations for Regional Disease Surveillance (CORDS), were established in 2010 to improve the interactions between members and other global partners in order to strengthen international health security.

Our experience shows that the OH approach brings healthcare professionals to a common platform that could improve cooperation during the surveillance of diseases. This approach could facilitate the implementation of objectives of OH, through improvement of the status of the education system, administrative structures, and legislation [62]. Thus, the infrastructure, as well as capacity of veterinary and human health facilities, as well as capacity of facilities should be strengthened to facilitate the exchange of information between the two sectors. In addition, the private sector should not be side-lined, but rather should be considered a partner in sharing the costs in proportion to the benefits, when distributing responsibility for emerging pathogens. A smart partnership of SACIDS and local institutions in Tanzania with external institutions such as the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in the United Kingdom, and with the University of Pretoria and Stellenbosch University in South Africa, has brought together academicians and researchers to collaborate on supervision and research activities. This has enabled young researchers to utilize both local and global facilities for research. The SACIDS, in collaboration with the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), and the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI), has supported the OH approach and encouraged the shared use of both veterinary and human health facilities including laboratories. Training modules on OH concepts have been established in local universities to impart inter-disciplinary training on OH to young scientists. The complex nature of zoonotic diseases and limited resources in developing countries are reminders of the need for the implementation of OH in disease surveillance in low-resource settings [63]. Cost-effective disease surveillance should be implemented to ensure that the few resources that are available are streamlined and synergistically developed between human, animal, and environmental health in order to prioritize disease control programs.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the zoonotic importance of mycobacterial infection and the possibility of co-infections with other pathogens highlights the need for collaborative efforts among professionals in terms of sharing of research and resources, to ensure cost-effective control of diseases. Therefore, it is important to establish consistent communication among professionals in order to undertake joint actions toward the prevention and control of emerging zoonotic diseases including mycobacterial infections. Moreover, universities and research institutions should take a lead to change the mindset of young scientists to reduce insularity when it comes to controlling of infectious diseases of public health importance. It is worth noting that synergy among medical, veterinary, and environmental professionals in the surveillance of diseases could reduce cost and improve information sharing. However, the main concern is whether these professionals are willing to work on a common platform, something that might necessitate a change of attitude in order to achieve the best outcome.

Availability of data and materials

The whole information provided in this paper was generated from peer reviewed published articles.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Wellcome Trust grant [WT087546MA] to the Southern African Centre for Infectious Diseases Surveillance (SACIDS) for their support during the writing of this review. We would also like to acknowledge the London International Development Centre (LIDC) and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) for logistic support in London during the preparation of this review paper.

Funding

The preparation of this review article was funded by the Wellcome Trust grant [WT087546MA] to the Southern African Centre for Infectious Diseases Surveillance (SACIDS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

    Bugwesa Z. Katale & Mecky I. Matee

  2. Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI), Arusha, Tanzania

    Bugwesa Z. Katale, Julius D. Keyyu & Robert D. Fyumagwa

  3. Southern African Centre for Infectious Diseases Surveillance (SACIDS), Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania

    Bugwesa Z. Katale, Mark M. Rweyemamu & Mecky I. Matee

  4. Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

    Erasto V. Mbugi

  5. DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research/ South African Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa

    Paul D. van Helden

  6. Department of Immunology and Infection, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, UK

    Hazel M. Dockrell

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All authors contributed equally in the preparation of the review paper. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Bugwesa Z. Katale.

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Katale, B.Z., Mbugi, E.V., Keyyu, J.D. et al. One Health approach in the prevention and control of mycobacterial infections in Tanzania: lessons learnt and future perspectives. One Health Outlook 1, 2 (2019). https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.1186/s42522-019-0002-1

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One Health Outlook

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