Some population characteristics of the northern Yellowstone bison herd during the winter of 1988-1989

Johnson

2011

Clin Vaccine Immunol

A comparative study was conducted using data from naive bison (n ‫؍‬ 45) and cattle (n ‫؍‬ 46) from 8 and 6 studies, respectively, in which a standardized Brucella abortus strain 2308 experimental challenge was administered during midgestation. The incidence of abortion, fetal infection, uterine or mammary infection, or infection in maternal tissues after experimental challenge was greater (P < 0.05) in bison than in cattle. In animals that did abort, the time between experimental challenge and abortion was shorter (P < 0.05) for bison than for cattle. Brucella colonization of four target tissues and serologic responses on the standard tube agglutination test at the time of abortion did not differ (P > 0.05) between cattle and bison. The results of our study suggest that naive bison and cattle have similarities and differences after experimental exposure to a virulent B. abortus strain. Although our data suggest that bison may be more susceptible to infection with Brucella, some pathogenic characteristics of brucellosis were similar between bison and cattle.

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of Abortion and Infection after Experimental Challenge of Pregnant Bison and Cattle with Brucella abortus Strain 2308

Johnson

2011

Clin Vaccine Immunol

“…The prevalence of brucellosis in freeranging bison (Bison bison) and elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) in Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, USA) and surrounding areas has been well documented (Thorne et al, 1978;Pac et al, 1991;Rhyan et al, 2001). Following completion of the brucellosis eradication program for cattle, bison and elk in the Greater Yellowstone Area will be the sole remaining reservoirs of Brucella abortus in the U.S.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although the life span of most bison in Yellowstone National Park is probably 12-15 yr, some may reach the age of 20 (Anon., 2000). In a study of bison killed when they exited the park during the winter of 1988-89, 43% of females tested positive or suspect for exposure to B. abortus, with the oldest female estimated to be approximately 15 yr of age (Pac et al, 1991).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Safety of Revaccination of Pregnant Bison With Brucella Abortus Strain Rb51

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

Holland

2003

From December 1998 through February 1999, a study was conducted in a Brucellainfected bison herd to evaluate the safety of booster vaccination of adult bison (Bison bison) with 6ϫ10 9 colony forming units (CFU) of Brucella abortus strain RB51 (SRB51) that had previously been vaccinated as yearlings with 1ϫ10 10 CFU of SRB51. Abortions or other adverse effects were not observed after SRB51 booster vaccination. At 10 wk after adult vaccination, pregnant and nonpregnant bison (nϭ65) were randomly selected for bacteriologic sampling of targeted maternal tissues during abattoir processing. Fetal tissues were also sampled in pregnant bison. The SRB51 vaccine was recovered from tissue samples of eight of 48 pregnant bison and none of 17 nonpregnant bison. In three of the eight culture-positive bison, SRB51 was recovered from fetal tissues. In three additional bison, one pregnant and two nonpregnant, B. abortus biovar 1 field strain was recovered from internal iliac or supramammary lymphatic tissues. Results of this study suggest the possibility that the SRB51 vaccine can be safely used to booster vaccinate pregnant bison in a Brucella-infected bison herd. Our data also reaffirms the potential for B. abortus field strains to persist in bison until attainment of reproductive age, despite extensive use of vaccination and serologic testing.

“…However, bison and elk (Cervus elaphus) within the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA; Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and adjacent areas) maintain a high seroprevalence for brucellosis (Thorne et al, 1978;Pac et al, 1991) and may threaten the goal for eradication of brucellosis from cattle in the US. Because bison (Davis et al, 1990) and elk (Thorne et al, 1979) are capable of transmitting brucellosis under experimental conditions, there is concern that persistence of the disease in wildlife in the GYA may pose a threat to completion of the brucellosis eradication program in cattle.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immune Responses of Bison to Ballistic or Hand Vaccination With Brucella Abortus Strain Rb51

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

Kreeger

Schultz

2002

From January through July of 2000, a study was conducted to evaluate clearance, immunologic responses, and potential shedding of Brucella abortus strain RB51 (SRB51) following ballistic or subcutaneous (SQ) vaccination of 7 mo old bison (Bison bison) calves. Ten bison calves were vaccinated SQ with 1.4 x 10(10) colony-forming units (CFU) of SRB51 and five calves were inoculated SQ with sterile 0.15 M sodium chloride. An additional 10 bison calves were ballistically inoculated in the rear leg musculature with 1 x 10(10) CFU of SRB51 and five calves were ballistically inoculated with an empty Biobullet. Serologic responses were monitored at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 18, and 24 wk using the standard tube agglutination test and a dot-blot assay. Swabs from rectal, vaginal, nasal, and ocular mucosal surfaces, and blood were obtained for culture from all bison at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks post-inoculation to evaluate potential shedding by vaccinated bison or persistent septicemia. The superficial cervical lymph node was biopsied in eight ballistic and eight hand vaccinated bison at 6 or 12 wk to evaluate clearance of the vaccine strain from lymphatic tissues. Lymphocyte proliferative responses to irradiated SRB51 bacteria were evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) at 4, 6, 8, 12, 18, and 24 wk after inoculation. Serum obtained from hand or ballistically vaccinated bison demonstrated antibody responses on the dot-blot assay that were greater than control bison (saline or empty Biobullet) at 2, 4, 6, and 8 wk after vaccination. Antibody titers of ballistically vaccinated bison did not differ (P > 0.05) from hand vaccinated bison at any sampling time. Blood samples obtained from all bison at 2, 4, 6 and 8 wk after vaccination were negative for SRB51. One colony of SRB51 was recovered from the vaginal swab of one ballistically vaccinated bison at 2 wk after vaccination. All other ocular, vaginal, nasal, and rectal swabs were culture negative for SRB51. Strain RB51 was recovered from superficial cervical lymph nodes of hand and ballistic vaccinated bison at 6 (two of four and two of four bison, respectively) and 12 wk (three of four and one of four bison, respectively). Serologic tests and bacterial culture techniques failed to demonstrate infection of nonvaccinated bison. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from hand vaccinated bison had greater (P < 0.05) proliferative responses to strain RB51 bacteria when compared to PBMC from nonvaccinated and ballistically vaccinated bison. Proliferative responses of PBMC from ballistically vaccinated bison did not differ (P > 0.05) at any sampling time from proliferative responses of PBMC from control bison. Serum alpha 1-acid glycoprotein concentrations, plasma fibrinogen, and total protein concentrations were not influenced by treatments. Ballistic delivery of SRB51 did not induce adverse effects or influence clearance of the vaccine strain. There were no proliferative responses of PBMC to SRB51 in bison ballistically vaccinated with SRB51; whereas bison inoculated wit...