From 1997 to 2000, Mycobacterium tuberculosis was diagnosed in two Asian elephants ( Elephas maximus ), three Rocky Mountain goats ( Oreamnos americanus ), and one black rhinoceros ( Diceros bicornis ) in the Los Angeles Zoo. DNA fingerprint patterns suggested recent transmission. An investigation found no active cases of tuberculosis in humans; however, tuberculin skin-test conversions in humans were associated with training elephants and attending an elephant necropsy.

While evaluating quinolone resistance in a sample of Campylobacter isolates recovered from patients with campylobacteriosis in Los Angeles County, California, in 1998, we discovered that the second most frequently isolated species was Campylobacter upsaliensis (6 [4%] of 155 isolates). The ability of laboratories to recover this species may be dependent on the culture conditions and the media used. Three dogs living in the households of 2 of these 6 patients had C. upsaliensis isolated in their stool specimens.