rifampin and Monkey-Diseases

Tuberculosis is a major public health concern, and diagnostic strategies applied to animal populations are scarce. As part of ongoing efforts to control tuberculosis dissemination at our animal facility, two non-human primates (NHP, Saimiri sciureus) presenting cutaneous lesions were examined for mycobacterial infection. Both animals tested positive for acid-fast bacilli and Mycobacterium tuberculosis using a molecular assay (IS6110 PCR). Animals were euthanized and several samples were tested for M. tuberculosis using the Xpert MTB/RIF assay. Many samples were positive for M. tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance, and some produced mycobacterial growth. Oral swabs from cage mates were then tested with Xpert MTB/RIF, and the majority tested positive for M. tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance, and produced growth in culture. To our knowledge, this is the first report of multidrug-resistant mycobacterial infection in NHP. Additionally, our data shows that the Xpert MTB/RIF assay can be useful as a screening tool for tuberculosis infection in NHP.

Topics: Animals; Antitubercular Agents; Bacteriological Techniques; DNA, Bacterial; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Genotype; Monkey Diseases; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Predictive Value of Tests; Rifampin; Saimiri; Tuberculosis, Cutaneous; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant

Occurrence of tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis in a colony of rhesus monkeys allowed evaluation of a modern multidrug therapeutic regimen. Fifteen tuberculin positive rhesus monkeys with disseminated tuberculosis were evaluated for extent of disease by radiographic techniques, physical examination and laparotomy prior to treatment. Monkeys were divided into treatment groups of 3, 6 and 12 months duration and were treated once daily with isoniazid, rifampin and ethambutol. All animals survived their treatment course, had marked clinical improvement and rapid resolution of radiographically demonstrable lesions. Lesion regression evaluated by necropsy and histopathology correlated positively with length of treatment interval. Mycobacterium bovis was not isolated from any animal following treatment. Multidrug chemotherapy of tuberculosis was considered successful and practical in rhesus monkeys at the 12 month treatment interval. Chemotherapy may provide a reasonable alternative to destruction of valuable animals infected with tuberculosis.

Topics: Animals; Antitubercular Agents; Disease Outbreaks; Drug Therapy, Combination; Ethambutol; Female; Isoniazid; Macaca; Macaca mulatta; Male; Monkey Diseases; Mycobacterium bovis; Radiography; Rifampin; Tuberculosis

Topics: Age Factors; Animals; Animals, Laboratory; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Chloramphenicol; Diarrhea; Dysentery, Bacillary; Feces; Female; Haplorhini; Indonesia; Japan; Macaca; Malaysia; Male; Monkey Diseases; Philippines; Quarantine; Rifampin; Seasons; Shigella flexneri; Shigella sonnei