Anthropo-zoonotic transfer of tubercle bacillus

Human tuberculosis caused the partial paralysis in the young baboon, Marcus, that was put down in June. But TB experts have warned that, rather than baboons being viewed as a health threat to humans, the diagnosis should sound the alarm about the transfer of human disease to wild animals. It was initially feared that Marcus, a research baboon, had been poisoned and a battery of tests were performed to determine the cause of his paralysis and eventual death.
Revealing the news of Marcus's autopsy results, the multirepresentative Baboon Management team's Esme Beamish said they were concerned about the appearance of human TB in a baboon. Paul van Helden, professor of medical biochemistry at Stellenbosch University and a TB expert, said human disease was transferred to wild animals through close contact with them and inappropriate management of refuse. Beamish said the Peninsula's baboon population of 384 180 was already stressed due to isolation, ring fencing by urbanisation and conflict with humans. "A health risk introduced by humans is a serious threat to their continued presence in the Peninsula," she warned.
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