The Knowledge of Tuberculosis in Pinnipeds

Abstract

1. Infectious diseases, especially zoonoses, have gained attention after the COVID-19 pandemic. The One Health approach iscrucial for understanding and preventing infectious agent spread. The Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), hasbeen reported in pinnipeds.2. This updated systematic review aimed to:A. Summarize cases of tuberculosis (TB) in pinnipeds reported in scientific literature worldwide from 1913 to 2024.B. To map the geographical distribution of cases and identify geographical gaps in the detection of MTBC in this group ofmarine mammals.C. Record the diagnostic techniques used to detect disease and the etiological agent, depending on whether the animals werein captivity or free-living conditions.3. We conducted a systematic review following standardised protocols across major scientific databases, using four keywordstrings. We included literature reporting TB cases in pinnipeds over a period of 111 years.4. Two mycobacteria (M. pinnipedii and M. bovis), belonging to MTBC, were documented in 12 pinniped species from 12 coun-tries, as well as M. smegmatis. Argentina and Australia stand out as the countries with the most publications documenting TBin pinnipeds. Among the 12 countries, New Zealand stands out by reporting infections in wild and captive individuals of fivepinniped species.5. Our results indicate that zoonotic TB is present in several regions; however, we identified important geographic informationgaps in areas with a high density of pinnipeds.6. We highlights the role of pinnipeds as both susceptible hosts and vectors of TB, a globally distributed disease that affectswild and captive populations. The presence of TB in these populations represents a significant risk to both animal and publichealth, particularly in regions with intense human-wildlife interactions, such as ecotourism areas, rehabilitation centers, andwildlife parks.