Emerging Infectious Diseases (Mar 2021)

Mycobacterium bovis Infection in Free-Ranging African Elephants

  • Michele A. Miller,
  • Tanya J. Kerr,
  • Candice R. de Waal,
  • Wynand J. Goosen,
  • Elizabeth M. Streicher,
  • Guy Hausler,
  • Leana Rossouw,
  • Tebogo Manamela,
  • Louis van Schalkwyk,
  • Léanie Kleynhans,
  • Robin Warren,
  • Paul van Helden,
  • Peter E. Buss

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2703.204729
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 27, no. 3
pp. 990 – 992

Abstract

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Mycobacterium bovis infection in wildlife species occurs worldwide. However, few cases of M. bovis infection in captive elephants have been reported. We describe 2 incidental cases of bovine tuberculosis in free-ranging African elephants (Loxodonta africana) from a tuberculosis-endemic national park in South Africa and the epidemiologic implications of these infections.

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