MYCOBACTERIUM BOVIS IN WILD CARNIVORES AND OMNIVORES FROM MICHIGAN

Authors: BRUNING-FANN, C - USDA, APHIS; SCHMITT, S - MI DEPT NATURAL RESOURCES; FRIEDRICH, P - MI DEPT NATURAL RESOURCES; FIERKE, J - MI DEPT NATURAL RESOURCES; FITZGERALD, S - MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY; CLARKE, K - MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY; BUTLER, K - MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY; PAYEUR, J - USDA, APHIS; Whipple, Diana; Miller, Janice

Submitted to: International Workshop on Tuberculosis in Animals
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/15/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: During a survey of carnivores and omnivores for tuberculosis in progress since 1996, Mycobacterium bovis was cultured from pooled lymph nodes of five coyotes (Canis latrans) (3 adult female, 2 adult male), 2 adult male raccoons (Procyon lotor), and a 1.5 year male black bear (Ursus americanus). One adult, male bobcat (Felis rufus) with histologic lesions suggestive of mycobacteria was negative on culture but positive for organisms belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex when tested by polymerase chain reaction. One coyote, one raccoon, and the bobcat were from Alpena county, two coyotes and a raccoon from Montmorency county, and two coyotes and a bear from Alcona county. These counties are located in the northeastern portion of Michigan's Lower Peninsula where M. bovis is known to be endemic in the free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) population (Schmitt et al., 1997). It is thought that these wild carnivores/omnivores became infected with M. bovis through the consumption of tuberculous deer. Other species included in the survey were the opossum (Didelphis virginiana), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), and badger (Taxidea taxus).