title: Comparative Intradermal Tuberculin Testing of Free-Ranging African Buffaloes (Syncerus caffer) Captured for Ex Situ Conservation in the Kafue Basin Ecosystem in Zambia.
abstract: Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) is endemic in African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer) in some National Parks in Southern Africa, whilst no studies have been conducted on BTB on buffalo populations in Zambia. The increased demand for ecotourism and conservation of the African buffalo on private owned game ranches has prompted the Zambian Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) and private sector in Zambia to generate a herd of "BTB-free buffaloes" for ex situ conservation. In the present study, 86 African buffaloes from four different herds comprising a total of 530 animals were investigated for the presence of BTB for the purpose of generating "BTB free" buffalo for ex-situ conservation. Using the comparative intradermal tuberculin test (CIDT) the BTB status at both individual animal and herd level was estimated to be 0.0% by the CIDT technique. Compared to Avian reactors only, a prevalence of 5.8% was determined whilst for Bovine-only reactors a prevalence of 0.0% was determined. These results suggest the likelihood of buffalo herds in the Kafue National Park being free of BTB.
authors.affiliation: Section of Aquatic Medicine and Nutrition, Department of Basic Sciences and Aquatic Medicine, Norwegian School of Veterinary Sciences, Ullevålsveien 72, P.O. Box 8146, 0033 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Hetron Mweemba
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Munang'andu
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Siamudaala
authors.forename: Wigganson
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Matandiko
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nambota
authors.forename: John Bwalya
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Muma
authors.forename: Aaron Simanyengwe
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Mweene
authors.forename: Musso
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Munyeme