title: Absence of Mycobacterium bovis in feral swine (Sus scrofa) from the southern Texas border region.
abstract: Free-ranging wildlife, such as feral swine (Sus scrofa), harbor a variety of diseases that are transmissible to livestock and could negatively impact agricultural production. Information is needed regarding the exposure and infection rates of Mycobacterium bovis and many other diseases and parasites in feral swine occurring in the Texas border region. Our main objective was to determine exposure rates and possible infection rates of M. bovis in feral swine by opportunistically sampling animals from the Texas border region. From June to September 2010, we obtained samples from 396 feral swine and tested 98 samples for M. bovis by histopathology and mycobacteriologic culture. We found no evidence of M. bovis infection. We believe that it is important to periodically and strategically sample feral swine for M. bovis in high-risk areas of the United States because they are capable of becoming reservoirs of the disease.
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, MSC 218, 700 University Blvd., Kingsville, Texas 78363, USA. tyler.a.campbell@aphis.usda.gov
authors.forename: Tyler A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Luis R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Bazan
authors.forename: Bruce V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.forename: Suelee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Robbe-Austerman
authors.forename: Ronald B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Davey
authors.forename: Liza A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Soliz
authors.forename: Seth R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Swafford
authors.forename: Kurt C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: VerCauteren
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000382:microbiology; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000382:microbiology*; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*