Bovine Tuberculosis in Free-Ranging Carnivores From Michigan

Abstract

During a survey of carnivores and omnivores for bovine tuberculosis conducted in Michigan (USA) since 1996, Mycobacterium bovis was cultured from lymph nodes pooled from six coyotes (Canis latrans) (four adult female, two adult male), two adult male raccoons (Procyon lotor), one adult male red fox (Vulpes vulpes), and one 1.5-yr-old male black bear (Ursus americanus). One adult, male bobcat (Felis rufus) with histologic lesions suggestive of tuberculosis was negative on culture but positive for organisms belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex when tested by polymerase chain reaction. All the tuberculous animals were taken from three adjoining counties where M. bovis is known to be endemic in the free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) population. There were two coyotes, one raccoon, one red fox, and one bobcat infected in Alpena county. Montmorency County had two coyotes and one raccoon with M. bovis. Two coyotes and a bear were infected from Alcona County. These free-ranging carnivores/omnivores probably became infected with M. bovis through consumption of tuberculous deer. Other species included in the survey were opossum (Didelphis virginiana), gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), and badger (Taxidea taxus); these were negative for M. bovis.

Uruguayan Pinnipeds (Arctocephalus australis and Otaria flavescens): Evidence of Influenza Virus and Mycobacterium pinnipedii Infections

“…Similar findings were reported for wild carnivores for which positive cultures for M. bovis were not accompanied by gross or histological lung lesions (Bruning-Fann et al, 2001;Little et al, 1982). Furthermore, cattle with M. bovis developed a non-progressive disease, with small lesions in lymph nodes (retropharyngeal and mediastinal), which in turn are positive reactors to diagnostic tests for delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity (Tuberculin skin test).…”

Systemic Staphylococcus aureus Infection in a Free-ranging Raccoon (Procyon lotor)

“…Chronic granulomas caused by S. aureus are referred to as botryomycosis or bacterial pseudomycetoma (Ginn et al, 2007). Although many viral diseases of raccoons (Procyon lotor) have been documented, only a few bacterial diseases, namely leptospirosis (Hamir et al, 2001), tuberculosis (Bruning-Fann et al, 2001), campylobacteriosis (Hamir et al, 2004), Tyzzer's disease (Wojcinski and Barker, 1986), nocardiosis (Hamir and Rupprecht, 1996), and listeriosis (Hamir et al, 2001), have been reported in raccoons. To the author's knowledge, lesions caused by S. aureus have not been documented in this species.…”

Experimental Inoculation of North American Opossums (Didelphis Virginiana) With Mycobacterium Bovis

“…The intramuscular (IM) route was selected because this route of inoculation results in rapid dissemination of infection with abscess formation in multiple organ systems in the brush-tailed possum (Corner and Presidente, 1980). Oral inoculation was selected because it is the most likely source of natural exposure in Michigan (Bruning-Fann et al, 2001). …”