title: An experimental intratonsilar infection model for bovine tuberculosis in African buffaloes, Syncerus caffer.
abstract: An infection model for Mycobacterium bovis in African buffaloes, Syncerus caffer, was developed, using the intratonsilar route of inoculation. Two groups of 11 buffaloes each, aged approximately 18 months, were infected with either 3.2 x 10(2) cfu (low dose) or 3 x 10(4) cfu (high dose) of M. bovis strain isolated from a buffalo. A control group of six buffaloes received saline via the same route. The infection status was monitored in vivo using the comparative intradermal tuberculin test, and in vitro by the modified interferon-gamma assay. All buffaloes were euthanazed 22 weeks post infection and lesion development was assessed by macroscopic examination, culture and histopathology. It was found that the high dose caused macroscopic lesions in nine out of 11 buffaloes. Mycobacterium bovis was isolated from all buffaloes in the high-dose group and from six out of 11 in the low-dose group.
authors.affiliation: South African National Parks, Private Bag X402, Skukuza 1350, South Africa.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Klerk
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Grobler
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Bengis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bush
authors.forename: N P J
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Kriek
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hofmeyr
authors.forename: J F T
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Mackintosh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002020:Buffaloes / Q000382:microbiology*; D002417:Cattle; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial / Q000662:veterinary; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000382:microbiology; D011897:Random Allocation; D013045:Species Specificity; D014374:Tuberculin Test / Q000662:veterinary; D014380:Tuberculosis, Bovine / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D007371:Interferon-gamma