Spillover of Mycobacterium bovis from Wildlife to Livestock, South 
Africa

Abstract

During August 2012–February 2013, bovine tuberculosis was detected in communal livestock bordering the Greater Kruger National Park Complex (GKNPC) in South Africa. Using spacer oligonucleotide and variable number tandem repeat typing, we identified the Mycobacterium bovis strain endemic in GKNPC wildlife. Our findings indicate bovine tuberculosis spillover from GKNPC wildlife to neighboring livestock.

Keywords

• bovine tuberculosis
• Mycobacterium bovis
• wildlife tuberculosis
• Kruger National Park
• wildlife–livestock–human interface
• South Africa