Gross and microscopic lesions of naturally occurring tuberculosis in a captive herd of wapiti (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) in Colorado.
A Mycobacterium bovis-infected herd of captive wapiti (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) in Colorado was depopulated after lesions of bovine tuberculosis were confirmed in 8 of 10 tuberculin skin test reactors. Of the 43 animals > 1 year of age, 26 had gross lesions suggestive of tuberculosis, 24 had microscopic lesions of tuberculosis, and 23 had acid-fast bacilli associated with the lesions. Lungs and retropharyngeal lymph nodes were the most frequently affected sites. Most lesions grossly and microscopically resembled tuberculosis in cattle; however, some lesions resembled abscesses or ovine caseous lymphadenitis lesions. Special stains and immunohistochemical techniques labeled few to numerous mycobacteria associated with the lesions.
Rhyan
J C
JC
Pathobiology Laboratory, US Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA 50010.
Saari
D A
DA
Williams
E S
ES
Miller
M W
MW
Davis
A J
AJ
Wilson
A J
AJ
D000818:Animals; D003120:Colorado; D003670:Deer / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*