title: New Insights into Mycobacterium bovis Prevalence in Wild Mammals in Portugal.
abstract: A survey to determine the prevalence of Mycobacterium bovis in wild mammals in Portugal was conducted by testing samples from hunted animals and those found dead between 2009 and 2013. In this study, we investigated 2116 wild mammals. Post-mortem examinations were performed, and tissues were collected from wild mammals representing 8 families and 11 different species, with a total of 393 animals analysed. Cultures were performed, and acid-fast isolates were identified by PCR. Tissues were also screened for Mycobacterium bovis by directly extracting DNA and testing for the Mycobacterium bovis-specific sequences. Mycobacterium bovis prevalence was 26.9% (95% CI: 22.8-31.5%). Mycobacterium bovis was recorded in 106 of the 393 studied species: prevalence by species were 26.9% (95% CI: 16.8-40.2%) in red foxes, 20.0% (95% CI: 7.0-45.2%) in Egyptian mongooses, 21.4% (95% CI: 16.2-27.7%) in wild boar and 38.3% (95% CI: 29.9-47.4%) in red deer. Mycobacterium bovis infection was detected in six of eight taxonomic families. For some species, the small sample sizes obtained were a reflection of their restricted range and low abundance, making estimates of infection prevalence very difficult (1 beech marten of 4; 1 Eurasian otter of 3; 2 common genet of 3). Infection was not detected in European badgers, hedgehog, wild rabbits and hare. The results of this study confirm the presence of Mycobacterium bovis infection in wild carnivores in Portugal.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciência Animal e Veterinária (CECAV), Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.|Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco, Castelo Branco, Portugal.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.affiliation: Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco, Castelo Branco, Portugal.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Figueira
authors.affiliation: Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco, Castelo Branco, Portugal.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciência Animal e Veterinária (CECAV), Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.|Departamento de Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética e Biotecnologia, Centro de Genómica e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biotecnologia e Bioengenharia, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciência Animal e Veterinária (CECAV), Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.|Departamento de Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Coelho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000382:microbiology*; D001344:Autopsy; D003670:Deer / Q000382:microbiology; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000662:veterinary; D004534:Egypt; D005589:Foxes / Q000382:microbiology; D045969:Mustelidae / Q000382:microbiology; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000382:microbiology; D013552:Swine; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Mycobacterium bovis; PCR; culture; prevalence; wild mammals