Bones of dead lions also deadly

Big cats’ TB organism makes humans sick

THE uncontrolled exposure of humans to lion bones for the lion bone trade “poses a risk for the development of bovine TB”.

This is according to Paul van Helden, a professor in the division of molecular biology and human genetics at Stellenbosch University.

Earlier this year, the Department of Environmental Affairs announced its plans to export 800 lion skeletons a year from South Africa to feed the bone trade in Asia.

“It should be noted that the organism that most commonly causes lion TB is Mycobac- terium bovis (which causes bovine TB),” says Van Helden, in a new report, “Dying for a Myth”, released this week by the Campaign Against Canned Hunting (Cach).

“This differs very slightly from that species most often causing human TB. Unfortunately, this organism has the propensity to cause TB in humans – often in organs other than the lung, making it very difficult to diagnose.

Furthermore, he says, it’s inherently resistant to one of the four most important drugs, antibiotics, used to treat pri- mary human TB.

“Treatment of humans with this form of TB is therefore compromised. This therefore poses a potential risk to humans which is arguably greater than the most common form of TB in humans.

“I’m therefore of the opinion that uncontrolled exposure of humans to bones from animals, in particular lion bones, poses a risk for development of the for m of TB known as bovine TB in particular, although not necessarily limited to this form of TB only.”

Cach believes there is “substantial risk” to humans from TB carried in lion bones and organs, which requires immediate attention and further research.

“An industry that puts the health of its workers/end- users at risk is an industry that is likely to find lawsuits against them in the future. They have now been warned about this issue and need to act on it immediately.”

Carla van der Vyfer, chief executive of the SA Predator Association, said she needed to study the report.

“Lions carry canine TB and not bovine TB, which is not transferable to people from the lions, but I’m not an expert on this.

“Proper measures to ensure that persons working with lions and or derivatives of lions are addressed in the Sapa norms and standards for keeping and breeding of lions are needed.”