There have been recent calls for action globally to explore zoonotic TB – TB that occurs in animals and is transmitted to humans. In 2018 the WHO Global TB report estimated that there were 142,000 cases globally of TB caused by M. bovis, a mycobacterium passed to humans by cattle and other mammals. M.bovis has been associated with higher rates of extrapulmonary TB. It is not known if M.bovis still occurs in PNG as there has not been any testing in recent years.
EZARET is a mixed methods study with three research objectives:
Determine the proportion of TB that occurs in the lymph nodes (presumptive TB lymphadenitis) that is attributable to M. tuberculosis complex in three provinces in PNG: East New Britain Province (ENB), Eastern Highlands Province (EH), and National Capital District.
Determine the proportion of presumptive TB lymphadenitis and of M. tuberculosis complex confirmed cases that are attributable to M. bovis in 3 provinces in PNG.
Explore animal–human interactions that may pose a risk for zoonotic infections.
2018 – 2023
Funding
Partners
- ACIAR (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research)
Partners +
Collaborators
- Dr Janet Gare, Co-Principal investigator, Institute of Medical Research (IMR), PNG
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL), Australia
- National Department of Health, PNG Central Public Health Laboratory, PNG Port Moresby General Hospital, PNG
Project
Team
Meet the project team. Together, we are translating research into better health, for all.
