ABSTRACT: Pinniped tuberculosis, commonly caused by Mycobacterium pinnipedii, is a zoonotic disease reported in free-living and captive otariid species of the southern hemisphere. Currently, data concerning pinniped tuberculosis in South America are scarce, reinforcing the need for further studies of the disease in free-ranging pinnipeds. In this study, we investigated the presence of tuberculosis in South American sea lions Otaria flavescens (SASLs) stranded along the Chubut coastline (Argentina). Necropsies were performed in 9 SASLs, and tissue samples were collected for histopathology, bacteriology, and molecular diagnosis. Four SASLs showed enlarged tracheobronchial lymph nodes (TBLNs) with multifocal to coalescing granulomas. In these animals, a direct IS6110-PCR amplification confirmed the presence of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex member in TBLNs (n = 4) and lungs (n = 2), but the agent could not be further identified. In one SASL, Mycobacterium murale was isolated from lungs without lesions. This study confirms the presence of tuberculosis in SASLs from Chubut, where tourist activities promote close interaction with the animals, generating a potential risk to human health. Further research is currently focusing on addressing the prevalence of tuberculosis in wild SASLs, to assess the risk for public health and develop management strategies to avoid human infection.

中文翻译：

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南美野生海狮的Otaria flavescens的结核病滞留在阿根廷丘布特

摘要：通常由pinnipedii分枝杆菌引起的pinniped结核病是一种人畜共患疾病，在南半球的自由生活和俘获的otariid物种中有报道。目前，南美洲有关结核病的资料很少，这增加了对自由放养的结核病进行进一步研究的必要性。在这项研究中，我们调查了沿丘布特海岸线（阿根廷）搁浅的南美海狮Otaria flavescens（SASLs）中是否存在结核病。在9个SASL中进行尸检，并收集组织样本进行组织病理学，细菌学和分子诊断。四个SASL表现为气管支气管淋巴结肿大（TBLN），多灶性至合并性肉芽肿。在这些动物中，直接的IS 6110-PCR扩增证实在TBLN（n = 4）和肺（n = 2）中存在结核分枝杆菌复合体成员，但无法进一步鉴定该病原体。在一种SASL中，从没有损伤的肺中分离出了分枝杆菌。这项研究证实了来自丘布特的SASL中存在结核病，那里的旅游活动促进了与动物的紧密互动，对人类健康产生了潜在风险。当前，进一步的研究集中在解决野生SASL中结核的流行，评估公共卫生风险和制定避免人类感染的管理策略。