Search Results (4,938)

Quantum image representation (QIR) is the basic idea behind quantum image processing. It explains how a normal image is converted into quantum states so that it can be processed using quantum computers. The commonly used models for QIR are Flexible Representation of Quantum Images (FRQIs) and Novel Enhanced Quantum Representation (NEQR). Though these approaches highlight the potential of quantum-based image encoding, the limitation of practical applicability on Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) devices exists. In this paper, we propose an intensity-preserving quantum image representation (IP-QIR) scheme that aims to maintain accurate grayscale intensity information while significantly reducing quantum resource usage. The proposed method employs a controlled rotation-based encoding strategy, where pixel intensities are embedded into the measurement probability of a single intensity qubit, and spatial information is represented using position qubits. To further enhance feasibility on near-term quantum hardware, the framework operates on small image patches instead of full-resolution images, thereby reducing circuit depth and overall complexity. The performance of the proposed IP-QIR approach is evaluated through IBM Qiskit simulations on three types of grayscale images: synthetic image patches, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images, and medical tuberculosis (TB) chest X-ray images. Experimental results demonstrate that IP-QIR achieves better intensity preservation than FRQIs and NEQR, with fidelity values reaching up to 84.12% for both SAR and medical datasets. In addition, IP-QIR represents a $4\times 4$ image patch using only five qubits, which significantly reduces the qubit requirement when compared to NEQR, while still preserving high reconstruction accuracy. Full article

Background: Resistance to first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs in Mycobacterium tuberculosis represents a significant public health challenge, particularly in high-burden tuberculosis (TB) settings such as Pakistan, where multidrug-resistant (MDR) forms further complicate disease control efforts. Drug resistance is primarily associated with mutations in rpoB, inhA, katG, embA, embB, embC, and pncA. The emergence of novel, region-specific variants underscores the urgent need for integrating genomic surveillance into routine TB diagnostics and regional control programs. This study aimed to identify the spectrum of mutations contributing to first-line drug resistance in MDR-TB isolates from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Methods: Whole-genome sequencing was performed on 16 clinical isolates (12 MDR and 4 drug-susceptible) to identify resistance-associated mutations in rpoB, inhA, katG, embA, embB, embC, and pncA. Detected variants were interpreted using the World Health Organization (WHO) mutation catalogue to determine their association with drug resistance. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred using the Bacterial and Viral Bioinformatics Resource Center (BV-BRC) platform. Results: A total of 16 M. tuberculosis isolates were analyzed to evaluate resistance to first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs. In rpoB, 76 distinct variants were identified, including canonical mutations such as Ser450Leu and His445Arg, as well as a potentially novel substitution, Ser431Phe, predicted to confer high-level rifampicin resistance. The katG and inhA genes harbored 24 and 27 mutations, respectively, including well-characterized substitutions such as Ser315Thr and Ala114Glu, which are strongly associated with isoniazid resistance. Mutations in embA and embB were linked to ethambutol resistance, with several variants localized within conserved transmembrane domains critical for drug interaction. Phylogenetic analysis revealed substantial genetic diversity and evidence of local transmission among MDR-TB isolates. Conclusions: This study suggests that the genetic landscape of drug resistance in M. tuberculosis is highly dynamic in endemic regions. The findings highlight the importance of integrating region-specific mutation profiles into molecular diagnostic frameworks to enhance early detection, guide individualized therapeutic interventions, and strengthen strategies aimed at controlling the transmission of MDR-TB. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of four cavity disinfection protocols on microtensile bond strength (µTBS) and failure mode of dentin bonded with a universal adhesive in self-etch mode. Sixty human third molars were assigned to five groups (n = 12): Control (Clearfil S3 Bond Universal), Clearfil SE Protect Bond (CPB, MDPB-containing), 2% chlorhexidine (CHX), 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), and 200 ppm hypochlorous acid (HOCl). After disinfectant application and bonding, composite build-ups were sectioned into beams (≈0.9 mm²) and tested as immediate (24 h) and thermocycled (10,000 cycles) subgroups. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA, Tukey HSD, and chi-square/Fisher’s exact tests (α = 0.05). At 24 h, NaOCl and CHX produced significantly lower µTBS than the control, HOCl, and CPB groups (p < 0.05). After thermocycling, Control, CPB, and NaOCl declined significantly, while CHX remained stable (p = 0.960) and HOCl showed non-significant reduction (p = 0.086). NaOCl yielded the highest adhesive failure rate and lowest bond strength. CHX reduced initial µTBS but maintained stability. HOCl and CPB produced values comparable to controls, though HOCl was more aging-susceptible. MDPB-containing adhesives may preserve bond durability while providing disinfection. Full article

Seepage beneath earth dams founded on pervious strata can cause excessive under-seepage, elevated downstream exit gradients, and high phreatic levels, thereby increasing susceptibility to internal erosion and piping. This study presents a Hele–Shaw laboratory investigation of seepage-control efficiency for an upstream impervious blanket used alone and in combination with a vertical cutoff (blanket–cutoff system). The experimental geometry reproduces a zoned earth dam cross-section at a scale of 1:200. Five foundation thickness ratios (T/B = 0.184–1.00) were tested. For the blanket-only system, four blanket length ratios (L_b/B = 0.50–1.25) were examined. For the blanket–cutoff system, cutoff depth ratios (S/T = 0.20–0.80) were investigated using (i) a representative blanket length L_b/B = 0.75 across all foundation depths and (ii) a deep-foundation case T/B = 1.00 across all blanket lengths. Seepage discharge, head loss due to seepage-control measures, maximum exit gradient at the downstream toe, and phreatic line location were measured at steady state and expressed in dimensionless form using the equivalent Hele–Shaw hydraulic conductivity. Relative to the no-measure reference case, the upstream blanket reduced dimensionless discharge by 20.8–70.2%, reduced the exit-gradient indicator by 6.4–50.2%, and reduced the downstream seepage-surface height by 58.9–92.8%. Adding a vertical cutoff provided further reductions relative to the blanket-only configuration, up to 34.4% in discharge and to 29.8% in exit-gradient indicator at L_b/B = 0.75—while increasing head loss across the upstream control system. Regression-based correlations and main-text design maps are proposed for preliminary sizing. The proposed correlations and design maps are intended for screening-level use only within the tested ranges 0.18 ≤ T/B ≤ 1.00, 0.50 ≤ L_b/B ≤ 1.25, and 0.20 ≤ S/T ≤ 0.80. Because the Hele–Shaw model is a two-dimensional viscous-flow analog of saturated seepage, the results provide a physical basis for relative comparison of seepage-control measures rather than a direct substitute for site-specific analysis of heterogeneous three-dimensional foundations. Accordingly, the agreement discussed in this paper is qualitative and trend-based, and the proposed tools are intended to complement rather than replace quantitative FEM for site-specific design. Full article

Porous, crystalline gamma-Al₂O₃ coatings with a thickness of (6 ± 0.5) μm and a uniform distribution of rare earth (RE) dopants are synthesized by plasma electrolytic oxidation of aluminum at a current density of 150 mA/cm² in a boric acid and borax (BB) solution containing added RE oxide particles (Ho₂O₃, Tb₄O₇, and Pr₆O₁₁) at concentrations of 1, 2, and 4 g/L. The concentration of RE oxide particles in the BB solution determines the amount of RE elements incorporated into the coatings but does not significantly affect their surface morphology, crystal structure, or light absorption properties. The coatings exhibit high absorption in the middle/near-ultraviolet region, characteristic of Al₂O₃. Typical 4f-4f transitions of Ho³⁺, Tb³⁺, and Pr³⁺ are observed in the photoluminescence spectra. Photocatalytic evaluations using methyl orange degradation under simulated solar irradiation show that RE doping significantly enhances photocatalytic efficiency. Peak degradation efficiencies are achieved at a concentration of 4 g/L for all RE oxides. After 8 h of irradiation, maximum degradation reaches 88%, 92%, and 85% with pseudo-first-order rate constants (k_app) of about 0.274 h⁻¹, 0.339 h⁻¹, and 0.232 h⁻¹ for coatings synthesized in BB with 4 g/L Ho₂O₃, Tb₄O₇, or Pr₆O₁₁, respectively. In comparison, the pristine Al₂O₃ coating achieves only about 50% degradation (k_app ≈ 0.087 h⁻¹). Photoluminescence indicates that RE³⁺ ions serve as effective charge-carrier traps, suppressing electron–hole pair recombination. RE-doped Al₂O₃ coatings demonstrate exceptional structural stability and reusability over six cycles, highlighting their potential for sustainable wastewater remediation. Full article

Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of infectious disease-related death globally. Most TB vaccine strategies have focused on conventional CD4 T cell responses, but to date, these have failed to deliver durable sterilizing protection. Donor unrestricted T cells (DURTs), including CD1-restricted T cells, HLA-E-restricted T cells, MR1-restricted T cells and γδ T cells represent an attractive complementary target for future TB vaccine development. They recognize antigens through conserved, non-polymorphic restricting elements and are therefore broadly targetable across genetically diverse populations. They are also enriched at mucosal sites, have rapid effector and cytotoxic capacities and recognize conserved mycobacterial ligands. Emerging human and animal data support their participation in antimycobacterial immunity and suggest they can be shaped by BCG vaccination and other immunization strategies. Here, we review the evidence for DURT involvement in TB host defense, assess their strengths and current limitations as vaccine targets, and discuss how DURT-directed approaches may help to enable faster, broader, and more durable protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Full article

The prevalence of Crohn’s disease has increased over the last few decades, even in developing countries, whereas that of intestinal tuberculosis has decreased, which places both diseases at an epidemiological crossroads. Crohn’s disease and intestinal tuberculosis share many clinical, endoscopic, imaging, and pathological features, which sometimes make differential diagnosis very difficult; an accurate diagnosis is, however, very important since an erroneous treatment can worsen the evolution or delay proper therapy. The association between past TB infection and Crohn’s disease can make the diagnosis especially hard. This review summarizes current data on specific features that allow differentiation between Crohn’s disease and intestinal tuberculosis, paying particular attention to the microbiome, clinical signs, endoscopy, cross-sectional imaging, bacteriological, and immunological findings detailed. The importance of computerized models and scores for the differentiation is also detailed, because common features may make the differentiation based on a single criterion difficult. Full article

Let $\epsilon >0$ and $\mathcal{TB}(\mathcal{X}\times \mathcal{X})$ be the Banach algebra of all $2\times 2$ bounded upper triangular operator matrices on a separable Hilbert space $\mathcal{X}\times \mathcal{X}$. In this paper, we first establish the spectrum equalities for special cases of upper triangular operator matrices—diagonal block operator matrix $M_0=\left({\displaystyle \genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{A0}{0B}}\right)$. We obtain that ${\widehat{\Sigma }}_{bi,\epsilon }\left(M_0\right)={\Sigma }_{bi,\epsilon }\left(A\right)\cup {\Sigma }_{bi,\epsilon }\left(B\right)$, $i\in \{1,2,4\}$, where ${\Sigma }_{bi,\epsilon }(·)$ and ${\widehat{\Sigma }}_{bi,\epsilon }(·)$ denote the noncommutative pseudo-upper (resp. lower) semi-Browder essential spectrum, noncommutative pseudo-Browder essential spectrum, sub-noncommutative pseudo-upper (resp. lower) semi-Browder essential spectrum, and sub-noncommutative pseudo-Browder essential spectrum. Secondly, based on Cao and Bai’s works, we study the perturbation of the sub-noncommutative pseudo-Browder essential spectrum ${\widehat{\Sigma }}_{b4,\epsilon }(·)$ of a 2 × 2 bounded upper triangular operator matrix $M_C=\left({\displaystyle \genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{AC}{0B}}\right)$ on a separable Hilbert space. We obtain that ${\displaystyle \bigcap _{C\in \mathcal{B}\left(\mathcal{X}\right)}{\widehat{\Sigma }}_{b4,\epsilon }\left(M_C\right)={\Sigma }_{b1,\epsilon }\left(A\right)\cup {\Sigma }_{b2,\epsilon }\left(B\right)\cup \Delta }$, where $\Delta =\{\lambda \in \mathbb{C}:$ there exist $P_i\in \mathcal{B}\left(\mathcal{X}\right)$ with $\parallel P_i\parallel <\epsilon ,i\in \{1,2\},$ such that $\alpha (A+P_1-\lambda I)+\alpha (B+P_2-\lambda I)\ne \beta (A+P_1-\lambda I)+\beta (B+P_2-\lambda I)\}$. Finally, we obtain ${\Sigma }_{bi,\epsilon }\left(A\right)\cup {\Sigma }_{bi,\epsilon }\left(B\right)={\widehat{\Sigma }}_{bi,\epsilon }\left(M_C\right)\cup W,i\in \{1,2,4\}$, where W is the union of certain holes in $({\Sigma }_{bi,\epsilon }\left(A\right)\cup {\Sigma }_{bi,\epsilon }\left(B\right))\backslash {\widehat{\Sigma }}_{bi,\epsilon }\left(M_C\right)$. Full article

Introduction: Tuberculous aneurysm of the thoracic aorta (TBAA) is an extremely rare but potentially fatal manifestation of tuberculosis (TB). Clinical presentation may include hemoptysis in the absence of parenchymal lung abnormalities. Case report: We presented a 62-year-old male with cough, chest pain, and minimal hemoptysis. Diagnostic evaluation confirmed an aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta at a site previously treated with endovascular repair, with no imaging findings suggestive of pulmonary TB. Bronchoscopy revealed blood in the main bronchi without an identifiable endobronchial source. The diagnosis of TB was established by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of bronchial aspirate obtained during bronchoscopy. Emergency surgical intervention was recommended because of an impending aortic rupture, but the patient declined surgery. Standard antituberculous therapy was initiated, and the patient subsequently developed drug-induced liver injury, prompting temporary cessation of treatment. The clinical course was later complicated by the development of an aortoesophageal fistula (AEF), with significant implications for prognosis. Conclusions: Early recognition of TBAA, along with a multidisciplinary approach that integrates advanced diagnostic modalities, timely vascular intervention, and carefully managed antituberculous therapy, is essential to reduce mortality and optimize treatment outcomes. Full article

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become one of the top ten global public health threats. Many countries have recognized the societal and economic burden of AMR. AMR has reduced the effectiveness of antimicrobial therapies, and this results in high mortality, morbidity, and health care expenditure. Like all the other developing countries, South Africa (SA) falls under the same ambiguous management system of antimicrobials. A lot of research focused on the global public health threat “AMR”. However, studies on AMR in wastewater are not yet enough, even though they are beginning to gain momentum. This paper highlights the imperatives of surveying AMR pathogens in wastewater since wastewaters are consecrated as hotspots for the dissemination and propagation of AMR genes. RNA was extracted from the untreated wastewater samples collected from the Tshwane district in Gauteng province, SA. Metatranscriptomics analysis was proposed for the analysis and profiling of AMR genes present in the wastewater. A total of 39 AMR gene families and 39 AMR drug classes were detected across 17 samples. The Metatranscriptomics approach discussed in this paper demonstrates the importance of wastewater surveillance, as it can be used as an early detecting system for communicable diseases and for monitoring wastewater. Full article

This case highlights a novel genotype–phenotype correlation in the field of endocrinology. Specific endocrine and imaging assessment, in addition to next-generation sequencing (NGS), was performed on the Illumina MiSeq platform, using a TruSight One Sequencing Panel kit for genomic analysis of coding regions of 4813 genes. A 54-year-old female was confirmed with a papillary thyroid carcinoma after total thyroidectomy and underwent radioiodine ablative therapy. Three years later, a left femoral enchondroma of almost 3 cm was identified at computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). She experienced hypertension (in addition to obesity, dyslipidaemia and impaired glucose tolerance) and was later confirmed with ACTH-independent cortisol excess [lack of cortisol suppression at 1 mg dexamethasone testing of 13.9 (normal < 1.8 µg/dL)], noting bilateral adrenal tumors, of 4.7 cm (right), respectively, and of 1.6 cm (left) at CT. Right laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed with post-operative adrenal insufficiency, requiring glucocorticoid replacement and stopping the anti-hypertensive medication. Pathology report confirmed an adrenocortical adenoma (a Ki67 proliferation index of 2%). Noting the unusual association of the mentioned conditions, NGS was performed in the peripheral blood and identified a heterozygote missense variant of the APC gene (c.5759G>A, p.Arg1920Gln), a heterozygote missense variant of the MSH6 gene (c.2092C>G, p.Gln698Glu), and an incidental additional finding: a heterozygote stop gain pathogenic variant of the CACNA1S gene (c.2707C>T, p.Arg903*). The first two are currently classified as variants of uncertain significance. Whether the co-presence of a triple mutation may change the clinical picture and the life-long outcomes across reciprocal influence is still an open matter. Further research will point out the clinical implications of this genotype–phenotype association, which, to our best knowledge, has not been previously reported. Full article

Background: Treatment adherence and outcomes for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) continue to be subpar in rural South Africa, where structural health system limitations, comorbid conditions, and diverse resistance patterns make clinical management more challenging. This study aimed to assess how demographic, clinical, and programmatic factors, including a Community Engagement–Clinical Governance (CE–CG) implementation period, affect DR-TB treatment outcomes using explanatory predictive modeling. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using routine program data from 694 DR-TB patients. A complete-case analysis was performed for multivariable modeling (n = 282). Logistic regression and decision tree models were used to examine the relationships between treatment success and selected predictors, including age, sex, treatment regimen, resistance phenotype, comorbidities, and the CE–CG implementation period. Model discrimination and performance were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, pseudo-R² statistics, likelihood ratio tests, and multicollinearity diagnostics. Results: The cohort had a mean age of 40.7 years, and 58.8% of patients were male. Overall treatment success was 59.9%. Severe resistance phenotypes were rare (1.7%) but clinically significant. Comparative analysis showed no notable demographic or outcome differences between included and excluded patients, indicating minimal selection bias. In adjusted models, treatment initiation during the CE–CG implementation period was significantly linked to lower odds of treatment success (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.443; 95% CI: 0.240–0.818; p = 0.009). Severe resistance phenotypes were strongly negatively associated with treatment success (aOR = 0.303; p = 0.056). Logistic regression models had limited discriminatory ability (AUC: 0.523–0.548), while the decision tree model showed modest improvement (AUC: 0.626). Overall, the model’s explanatory power was limited (pseudo-R² = 0.029), although no evidence of multicollinearity was found. Conclusions: Programmatic implementation periods and resistance severity were important factors associated with treatment outcomes in this rural DR-TB cohort. Although model discrimination was modest and explanatory power was limited, the findings provide useful insights into structural and programmatic vulnerabilities that affect treatment success in real-world settings. Strengthening clinical governance, improving routine program documentation, and incorporating more granular adherence, social, and governance indicators into routine data systems may improve both program evaluation and future predictive modeling. Full article

Background/Objectives: Terbium-161 is an interesting and promising theranostic radionuclide, thanks to its decay characteristics (T_1/2 = 6.95 d, E(β)_max = 593 keV, E(β)_av = 154 keV, E(γ) = 74.6 keV (10.2%)). Having similar chemical properties, it is considered as an alternative to currently used ¹⁷⁷Lu. In addition, ¹⁶¹Tb emits a significant amount of conversion and Auger electrons, which contribute to the enhancement of localised therapeutic effect. The aim of this paper is to describe the preparation of ¹⁶¹Tb in quantity and quality relevant for preclinical and early clinical studies and to provide practical notes on the preparation. Methods: No-carrier-added ¹⁶¹Tb has been repeatedly prepared by neutron irradiation of highly enriched ¹⁶⁰Gd targets (up to 98 mg of ¹⁶⁰Gd₂O₃) at nuclear reactor LVR-15 (CV Řež, Czech Republic) in four different irradiation positions. The separation and purification process of ¹⁶¹Tb from the bulk of ¹⁶⁰Gd target was performed by cation exchange chromatography with Dowex 50 W × 8 (H⁺ cycle, 200–400 mesh). Terbium-161 was obtained in ¹⁶¹TbCl₃ form and formulated into 0.1 M HCl solution. The γ-ray spectrometry was used for radionuclide identification and radionuclidic purity and the ICP-MS method for chemical purity measurements and specific activity determination. The DOTA labelling assay was performed, as described by Gracheva et al., providing an assessment of the apparent molar activity of the preparation in terms of its competitive interaction with stable daughter nuclide ¹⁶¹Dy. Results: Irradiations (59.2 h to 421.52 h) of enriched ¹⁶⁰Gd targets with mass ranging from 43.4 to 144.0 mg for ¹⁶⁰Gd(NO₃)₃ and from 12.5 to 98.3 mg for ¹⁶⁰Gd₂O₃ yielded 1.3–23.7 GBq of ¹⁶¹Tb. The separation yields of purified ¹⁶¹Tb varied from 85 to 99%, with the activities of 9.9–22.1 GBq and the highest achieved specific activity of the final product was 4.1 GBq/μg (of Tb). The DOTA chelator was radiolabelled with ¹⁶¹Tb at time points from 2 to 14 days after the end of separation (EOS). Conclusions: Based on our results, we describe practical aspects of terbium production at the laboratory scale with a particular focus on practical aspects and issues arising during the process that may surprise even experienced radiochemists, as lanthanoid separation is not always straightforward, even though it is well-known and has been extensively studied. The preparation of ¹⁶¹Tb in a n.c.a. form proceeds, according to the reported data, with high reproducibility and achieves significant activity levels suitable for both preclinical and clinical investigations by irradiation of highly enriched ¹⁶⁰Gd targets in LVR-15 reactor with subsequent separation and purification of ¹⁶¹Tb on cation exchange resin Dowex 50 W × 8(H⁺). The produced [¹⁶¹Tb]TbCl₃ is employed in subsequent experimental research and development for the labelling of preparations intended for preclinical applications. Full article

Bi-doped rare-earth iron garnet (Bi:RIG) single crystals are the core of optical isolators, and demand for them is surging due to the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. In this work, bismuth-doped terbium iron garnet (Bi:TbIG) single crystals with a composition of Bi_0.86Tb_2.14Fe₅O₁₂ and a size of 37 mm were successfully grown by the top-seeded solution growth (TSSG) method using a lead-containing flux system. These crystals exhibited a regular rhombic dodecahedron morphology enclosed by the {110} plane, and a growth rate of 0.018 mm/h perpendicular to the {110} planes. Systematic characterizations revealed that the crystals exhibited good compositional homogeneity, with no obvious Fe, Tb and Bi segregation from center to edge. Rocking curve tests presented a full width at half maximum of 172 arcsec. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results demonstrated that Fe exists exclusively in the +3 valence state without detectable Fe²⁺, whereas Tb is present in the +4 valence state. In addition, O was lattice O²⁻, without obvious defects. Magneto-optical tests indicated that the uncoated TSSG-grown Bi:TbIG crystals had 71% transmittance in the 1200~1600 nm waveband, and a Faraday rotation coefficient of 0.132°/μm at 1310 nm. The 11 × 11 mm samples exhibited an extinction ratio stably above 40 dB. The 349 μm thick samples meet the application requirements of miniaturized optical isolators. This study verifies the feasibility of TSSG for growing Bi:TbIG single crystals, offering a new technical route for Bi:TbIG growth with potential value for practical application. Full article

Background: Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) caused by Mycobacterium bovis is a major zoonotic disease in West Africa. In Africa, bTB is endemic in cattle with a prevalence ranging from 2% up to 18%. The disease causes significant public health risks due to unpasteurized milk and milk product consumption. In the context of the EU-PRISMA project, which promotes research and innovation for productive, resilient, and healthy agropastoral systems in West Africa, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in dairy herds from Mali and Niger to assess animal, herd, and within-herd bTB prevalence, as well as to identify animal risk factors and predictors of bTB herd status. Method and principal findings: A random cross-sectional survey on dairy cattle farms using comparative intradermal tuberculin test and epidemiological inquiry was performed in four regions of Mali (Bamako, Koulikoro, Mopti, and Sikasso) and three regions of Niger (Tahoua, Dosso, and Tillabéry). Herd and animal prevalence of bTB and within-herd prevalence were significantly higher in Mali (especially in Bamako and Koulikoro) than in Niger. Several risk factors were significantly associated with animals positive to bTB, i.e., the region where animals live, the age range from 3 to 7 years old, and female animals. In addition, in regions with higher bTB prevalence, the herd with slaughtering of animals in the farm and the herd with the presence of an animal assembly area were associated with the most unfavorable status of a herd with regards to bTB. Moreover, the average and the median annual economic losses of bTB at animal level were estimated at €262 and €137 respectively, with large variability depending on the farm (between €46 and €838). Conclusion and significance: This survey provides useful data on bTB epidemiology and economical losses in Mali and Niger and urges for improvement of surveillance systems and prevention and control strategies. Cost-benefit, return of investment, or similar analyses are strongly recommended to help with decision making. Full article