Combating tuberculosis in European bison in the Bieszczady Mountains - administrative aspect

Abstract

Tuberculosis in animals is an infectious and contagious disease, caused by acid-fast bacilli of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. The disease has been confirmed in Poland in farm and wild animals. Among the latter the largest number of cases was diagnosed in free-ranging European bison in the Bieszczady Mountains. The disease has also been present there since 2013 in the wild boar population. From April 21, 2021, in accordance with EU Regulation 2016/429, tuberculosis in European bison is a disease that is subject to mandatory eradication in all EU Member States. In Poland and in most EU countries where free-ranging European bison herds exist, no strategy has yet been developed to combat tuberculosis outbreaks in this species. To date, in Podkarpackie Voivodship eradication measures of bison tuberculosis have been undertaken in a framework of interdisciplinary cooperation of employees of the State Forests and the Veterinary Inspection, supported by representatives of the sciences. The article presents the legal status and the administrative aspects of the issue, as well as experiences and practical solutions of tuberculosis eradication in free-living European bison herds which have proven themselves in field conditions. The conclusions regarding an eradication strategy and the needs of tuberculosis monitoring are also presented in this article, which, apart from wild bison herds, takes into account other wild animal species and farm cattle from areas and buffer zones of bison herds infected with tuberculosis.

No evidence of <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> complex infection in samples from cervids in various regions of Poland

“…No bacteria from the MTBC were isolated from the examined samples collected from 76 free-living red and roe deer. These findings are consistent with those of previous studies conducted in the Bieszczady Mountains, where no MTBC infections were found in cervids, apart from a single case of M. caprae infection in a roe deer [14,17].…”

A review of tuberculosis and parasitic disease co-infection in ungulates, with regard to the potential threat to European bison ( Bison bonasus)

“…The European bison (Bison bonasus) is particularly susceptible to Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) infection; indeed, it has been the most common source of bovine tuberculosis mycobacteria isolation in Poland in recent years (Radulski et al 2019). Between 1996 and 2013, 45 cases of tuberculosis were confirmed microbiologically in this species in the Bieszczady Mountains in two different herds (Welz et al 2005). Cases of BTB have also been confirmed in captive European bison, most recently Mycobacterium caprae in the Smardzewice Bison Breeding Center (central Poland) in 2018 (Didkowska et al 2020(Didkowska et al , 2021.…”

Antibodies against the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and Brucella spp. in captive and free‐living European bison (Bison bonasus) in Poland

“…In addition, the MTC seroprevalence is not significantly different by status and locality. In the case of locality, this is surprising as in previous years, TB was microbiologically confirmed only in two captive herds, namely one herd in Smardzewice, central Poland and another (Wolisko) in Borecka Forest, and in two free‐living herds, namely in the Bieszczady Mountains and Borecka Forest (Krajewska et al., 2011 , 2016 ; Welz et al., 2005 ); therefore, it was anticipated that most positive results would be identified in these locations. In addition, localities with the highest seroprevalence (Białowieża Forest, Bieszczady Mountains, Niepołomice and Pszczyna) are not adjacent to each other (Figure 1 , Table 1 ).…”

“…It has been suggested that European bison are highly sensitive to Mycobacterium spp. infections ; indeed, TB has been confirmed in both captive and free-living herds of European bison in Poland (Welz et al, 2005).…”

“…It has been suggested that European bison are highly sensitive to Mycobacterium spp. infections (Didkowska, Orłowska, et al., 2021 ); indeed, TB has been confirmed in both captive (Didkowska, Orłowska, et al., 2021 ) and free‐living herds of European bison in Poland (Welz et al., 2005 ). Although paratuberculosis does not seem to be an emerging problem in Polish European bison herds (Didkowska, Ptak et al., 2021 ), atypical mycobacteria ( Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium xenopi ) have been isolated from them (Didkowska, Orłowska, et al., 2021 ).…”