Treatment of human disease due toMycobacterium bovis: a systematic review

Mycobacterium bovis , a member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, is an important cause of disease in cattle, but it can also cause disease in humans [1]. Transmission to humans generally occurs after close contact with infected animals or consumption of unpasteurised contaminated dairy products [1, 2]. The symptoms of human disease due to M. bovis are similar to those of disease caused by M. tuberculosis , although M. bovis is more likely to cause extrapulmonary disease [3]. In clinical practice, M. bovis can only be differentiated from M. tuberculosis using biochemical or genetic tests [3, 4]. Only limited evidence exists to support current recommendations for the treatment of human disease due to M. bovis The authors thank Philip A. LoBue (Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA), Christof J. Majoor (Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands) and Ezequiel Cordova (Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital Cosme Argerich, Buenos Aires, Argentina) for providing additional information.