Tuberculosis in Tanzanian Wildlife

Abstract

Bovine tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium bovis, is a pathogen of growing concern in free-ranging wildlife in Africa, but little is known about the disease in Tanzanian wildlife. Here, we report the infection status of Mycobacterium bovis in a range of wildlife species sampled from protected areas in northern Tanzania. M. bovis was isolated from 11.1% (2/ 18) migratory wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) and 11.1% (1/9) topi (Damaliscus lunatus) sampled systematically in 2000 during a meat cropping program in the Serengeti ecosystem, and from one wildebeest and one lesser kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis) killed by sport hunters adjacent to Tarangire National Park. A tuberculosis antibody enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was used to screen serum samples collected from 184 Serengeti lions (Panthera leo) and 19 lions from Ngorongoro Crater sampled between 1985 and 2000. Samples from 212 ungulates collected throughout the protected area network between 1998 and 2001 also were tested by EIA. Serological assays detected antibodies to M. bovis in 4% of Serengeti lions; one positive lion was sampled in 1984. Antibodies were detected in one of 17 (6%) buffalo (Syncerus caffer) in Tarangire and one of 41 (2%) wildebeest in the Serengeti. This study confirms for the first time the presence of bovine tuberculosis in wildlife of northern Tanzania, but further investigation is required to assess the impact on wildlife populations and the role of different wildlife species in maintenance and transmission.

Bovine Tuberculosis in East Africa

“…Moreover, it is also present in wildlife (Cleaveland et al, 2005;Lekolool, 2011). A significant correlation between prevalence of M. bovis infection in humans and in local cattle populations was reported, thus highlighting the potential threat of this disease to humans (Daborn et al, 1996).…”

Oral vaccination reduces the incidence of tuberculosis in free-living brushtail possums

“…Human cases are still common in less-developed countries (Cosivi et al 1998), and severe economic losses can occur from livestock deaths, chronic disease and trade restrictions (Etter et al 2006). In some situations, this disease may also be a serious threat to endangered species such as lions, cheetahs and rhinoceros (Cleaveland et al 2005;Renwick et al 2007). In many developed countries, livestock-focused Tb-control programmes have reduced or eliminated Tb in cattle (Reviriego Gordejo & Vermeersch 2006;Ryan et al 2006), and cases of human disease are rare (Sargeant 2008).…”

Using geographically weighted regression to explore the spatially heterogeneous spread of bovine tuberculosis in England and Wales

“…There may also be more mechanistic explanations. Seasonally wet soils on farms have been shown to protect against bTB in England and Wales , though if flooding leads to enforced contact between herds there may be increased transmission and prevalence as observed in Tanzania (Cleaveland et al 2005). Flooding might exacerbate environmental contamination of grazing pastures or drinking water with M. bovis and might also reduce badger food sources, forcing them to visit farm feed stores, so increasing contact between badgers and cattle (Garnett et al 2002).…”