Voles are maintenance hosts of Mycobacterium microti. In line with the goal to eradicate tuberculosis (TB) in livestock, the role of this mycobacteria needs to be assessed since it might interfere with current M. bovis/M. caprae surveillance strategies. To better understand the pathogenesis of TB in voles, an experimental infection model was set up to reproduce M. microti infection in laboratory Bank voles (Myodes glareolus). Two infection routes (intragastric and intraperitoneal) and doses (105 and 106 CFU/0.1 mL) were assessed. Voles were culled at different post-infection time points. Serology, histopathology, acid-fast bacilli staining, qPCR, and mycobacterial culture from tissues were performed. In addition, qPCR from feces and oral swabs were conducted to assess bacterial shedding. The model allowed us to faithfully reproduce the disease phenotype described in free-ranging voles and characterize the pathogenesis of the infection. Most animals showed multifocal and diffuse granulomatous lesions in the liver and spleen, respectively. Less frequently, granulomas were observed in lungs, lymph nodes, muscles, and salivary gland. Mycobacterial DNA was detected in feces from a few animals but not in oral swabs. However, one contact uninfected vole seroconverted and showed incipient TB compatible lesions, suggesting horizontal transmission between voles.
Keywords: Mycobacterium microti; experimental infection; tuberculosis; voles; wild rodents.