Prevalence of Mycobacterium bovis infection in cervids on privately owned ranches.
OBJECTIVE
To determine prevalence of tuberculosis caused by infection with Mycobacterium bovis in cervids on privately owned ranches in northeastern lower Michigan.


METHODS
Epidemiologic survey.


METHODS
Cervids on 96 privately owned ranches.


METHODS
A combination of slaughter and skin tuberculin testing was used to collect data. Infection with M. bovis was confirmed by use of standard necropsy and bacteriologic culture techniques.


RESULTS
Cervids with tuberculosis were detected on 1 of the 96 ranches. The apparent prevalence of tuberculosis in cervids from the 96 ranches was 1.1 cases/100 cervids (21 cases/1,867 cervids tested). For the ranch with infected cervids, prevalence of infection with M. bovis was 12.1 cases/100 cervids (21 cases/174 cervids tested). No obvious gross lesions were seen in 8 of 21 white-tailed deer and 1 coyote with culture-confirmed M. bovis infection.


CONCLUSIONS
The lack of visible lesions in a substantial proportion of infected animals should be taken into consideration in studies involving detection and prevalence of tuberculosis.
Kaneene
John B
JB
Population Medicine Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824, USA.
VanderKlok
Michael
M
Bruning-Fann
Colleen S
CS
Palmer
Mitchell V
MV
Whipple
Diana L
DL
Schmitt
Stephen M
SM
Miller
RoseAnn
R
D000818:Animals; D003670:Deer; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015995:Prevalence; D014374:Tuberculin Test / Q000662:veterinary; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*