TB testing is necessary for all personnel who work with nonhuman primates.

TB testing is necessary for all personnel who work with nonhuman primates.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not sure
• D. Not applicable

Answer: (A)

TB exposure risk in nonhuman primate facilities makes routine health surveillance for staff essential. Tuberculosis is an airborne disease, and procedures common in primate work—such as handling, anesthetizing, sample collection, and necropsies—can generate aerosols that transmit the disease. Nonhuman primates and people can each harbor and transmit members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, so preventing cross-species transmission is a priority for animal welfare and human health. Conducting TB testing on all personnel who work with nonhuman primates helps identify latent infections early, reduces the chance of transmission, and supports a safer working environment as part of an institution’s biosafety and occupational health program. Testing frequency and methods may vary by facility and risk assessment, but the underlying practice—testing all staff with exposure—is widely implemented to manage risk and protect both people and animals.

TB exposure risk in nonhuman primate facilities makes routine health surveillance for staff essential. Tuberculosis is an airborne disease, and procedures common in primate work—such as handling, anesthetizing, sample collection, and necropsies—can generate aerosols that transmit the disease. Nonhuman primates and people can each harbor and transmit members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, so preventing cross-species transmission is a priority for animal welfare and human health. Conducting TB testing on all personnel who work with nonhuman primates helps identify latent infections early, reduces the chance of transmission, and supports a safer working environment as part of an institution’s biosafety and occupational health program. Testing frequency and methods may vary by facility and risk assessment, but the underlying practice—testing all staff with exposure—is widely implemented to manage risk and protect both people and animals.