Vetnews | Maart 2026 30 « BACK TO CONTENTS ONE HEALTH AS THE PATH FORWARD Integrating One Health principles into tuberculosis control strategies is essential for addressing the diagnostic and surveillance gaps associated with zTB. This integration requires coordinated, cross-sectoral efforts that go beyond traditional siloed approaches. Joint surveillance initiatives should be established to enable simultaneous testing of livestock and human contacts during outbreak investigations (13). Additionally, national databases should be expanded to include zoonotic MTBC isolates, facilitating real-time data sharing between veterinary and public health sectors. Building capacity for molecular diagnostics is another key priority. This includes training personnel and equipping both human and veterinary laboratories with the necessary infrastructure to perform species-level identification and drug resistance testing. Policy frameworks must also evolve to mandate routine MTBC speciation—particularly for extrapulmonary TB—and to address risk factors, such as the consumption of unpasteurized dairy products, and the need for wildlife TB surveillance. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Zoonotic TB represents a growing yet underrecognized facet of the global tuberculosis burden. While historically attributed to M. bovis, recent evidence implicates other animal-adapted members of the MTBC, including M. orygis and M. caprae, that also contribute to human disease (3). These species are particularly relevant in regions with high human-livestock interactions, unregulated dairy consumption, and limited veterinary oversight (14). The inability of routine diagnostic algorithms to distinguish MTBC species leads to underreporting, inappropriate treatment regimens— such as the use of PZA in M. bovis infections—and missed opportunities for targeted public health interventions (4). Although advanced molecular tools, including real-time PCR, line probe assays, and WGS, offer accurate species-level identification, their deployment remains limited to a few research or reference laboratories. Veterinary diagnostic infrastructure faces similar constraints, further hindering intersectoral response to zTB. Addressing these gaps requires the deliberate integration of the One Health principles into national and global TB strategies (10,13). To improve recognition and control of zTB, several key actions are recommended. First, MTBC speciation should be incorporated into routine diagnostic workflows, especially for extrapulmonary and pediatric TB cases. Second, veterinary surveillance systems should be strengthened through the implementation of routine MTBC testing in livestock and relevant wildlife reservoirs. Third, laboratory capacity should be expanded through infrastructure development and workforce training in both human and animal health sectors. Fourth, data integration should be promoted, with mechanisms to support joint outbreak investigations and information sharing between public health and veterinary authorities. Finally, focused research efforts are needed to better define the epidemiology, transmission dynamics, and resistance profiles of underrecognized MTBC species, including M. orygis and M. caprae. Zoonotic TB challenges traditional assumptions about TB transmission, diagnosis, and control. Recognising its complex ecology and embracing cross-sectoral collaboration are essential steps toward comprehensive TB elimination and global health security. v REFERENCES 1 Rani I, Kumar R, Singha H, Riyesh T, Vaid RK, Bhattacharya TK, et al. Mycobacterium orygis and its unseen impact: re-evaluating zoonotic tuberculosis in animal and human populations. Front Public Health. 2025;13:1505967. [CrossRef] 2 Duffy SC, Srinivasan S, Schilling MA, Stuber T, Danchuk SN, Michael JS, et al. 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