title: Mycobacterium tuberculosis: an emerging disease of free-ranging wildlife.
abstract: Expansion of ecotourism-based industries, changes in land-use practices, and escalating competition for resources have increased contact between free-ranging wildlife and humans. Although human presence in wildlife areas may provide an important economic benefit through ecotourism, exposure to human pathogens may represent a health risk for wildlife. This report is the first to document introduction of a primary human pathogen into free-ranging wildlife. We describe outbreaks of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a human pathogen, in free-ranging banded mongooses (Mungos mungo) in Botswana and suricates (Suricata suricatta) in South Africa. Wildlife managers and scientists must address the potential threat that humans pose to the health of free-ranging wildlife.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Conservation of African Resources: Communities Animals and Land Use, Kasane, Botswana. kathyalx@botsnet.bw
authors.forename: Kathleen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: Eve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pleydell
authors.forename: Mark C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Emily P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: John F C
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Nyange
authors.forename: Anita L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Michel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001902:Botswana / Q000453:epidemiology; D002335:Carnivora / Q000382:microbiology*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D008988:Herpestidae / Q000382:microbiology*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014195:Travel; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial