However, animal-to-human tranmission remains an ignored territory for the health agencies at both the national and the international level, the researchers feel.

Even though the data evidence is still not available to prove the extent of incidence of transmission of TB from animals to humans, the cycle of the transmission from animals to humans, from humans to humans and from humans to animals is well established, says Dr Rishendra Verma, head, Division of Biological Standardisation and the head of Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, UP.

Notably, it is learnt that for lack of substantial data, WHO also has not included in its programme the steps to control this type of spread of the disease.

"M bovis is present in a wide range of animals including humans. Animals which have been found infected with TB include cow, buffalo, pig, dog, horse, deer, monkey, cat, camel and elephant among others. Therefore we need to carry out a comprehensive research to work out the burden of M bovis in human population in India, " said Dr Rishendra, speaking on the sidelines of a seminar on "Tuberculosis: A Zoonotic Challenge" here today.

"A 25-year old woman of Karnal in Haryana was found infected with TB through this kind of transmission caused by drinking raw and untreated milk," narrated Dr Rishendra, who has been researching zoonotic diseases for the last 20 years. He added that the products like milk or meat of infected animal could also cause the disease.

He said that since M bovis inherently shows resistance to anti-TB drugs, the whole treatment regimen of the disease was getting affected. "One does not come to know whether M bovis is present in a human since it is pyrazinamide (drug used to treat TB) resistant."

"Since the animal to human transmission is unusual, the stress is laid to tackle the human to human tranmission only. That is why it is a low priority with the Department of Bio-Technology. There is no reporting system for carrying out the studies since isolation is required if we have to give an authentic report regarding this. We require joint efforts by veterinarians and medicos to tackle this transmission."

Seminar organised

Vets Club, Ludhiana, organised a seminar on "Tuberculosis, a zoonotic challange" in association with the Indian Medical Association, Animal Husbandry Department, Punjab, State Veterinary Council and College of Veterinary Science, GADVASU, to mark the World Zoonosis Day-2009 at Hotel Le Baron today.

LS Chawla, former vice-chancellor of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, inaugurated the seminar which was attended by a gathering of veterinarians from the city. Deputy commissioner Vikas Garg also presided over the seminar.

Dr S K Jindal, proffesor and head of the department of pulmonary medicine, Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Dr Rishendra Verma, head, Division of Biological Standardisation, presented the lead papers in the seminar. Among others who spoke on the occasion were Prof Dr Vandana Verma and Prof Shavinder Singh from CMCH, Prof Dr Satyam Rampal, Prof HK Saxena and Dr JPS Gill from GADVASU and SS Khajuria, WHO, consultant for Punjab.