Wildlife and TB in pets
Journal
Veterinary Microbiology
Authors
L.A.L. Corner from the Department of Large Animal
Clinical Studies, University College Dublin
Abstract
Role of wild animal populations in the epidemiology
of tuberculosis in domestic animals - How to assess the risk
Tuberculosis is present in wild animal populations in North America, Europe,
Africa and New Zealand. Some wild animal populations are a source of infection
for domestic livestock and humans. An understanding of the potential of each
wild animal population as a reservoir of infection for domestic animals is
reached by determining the nature of the disease in each wild animal species,
the routes of infection for domestic species and the risk of domestic animals
encountering an infectious dose. The mere presence of infection in a wild animal
population does not of itself provide evidence of a significant wildlife
reservoir. Although at times counterintuitive, wildlife populations with high
disease prevalence may not necessarily have a role in the epidemiology of
disease in domestic livestock. The key concepts used in deciding whether an
infected wild animal population is involved in the epidemiology of tuberculosis
in domestic livestock is illustrated by reference to six well-researched cases:
the feral pig (Suis scrofa) and feral Asian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in
Australia, white tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Michigan, and the
brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) and other species, such as the ferret (Mustela
furo), in New Zealand. A detailed analysis of Mycobacterium bovis infection in
the Eurasian badger (Meles meles) in Ireland and their role as a reservoir of
infection for cattle is also presented.
Keywords
Tuberculosis; Epidemiology; Domestic livestock; Wild
animals; Mycobacterium bovis
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