title: Antemortem diagnosis of Mycobacterium bovis infection in free-ranging African lions (Panthera leo) and implications for transmission.
abstract: Diagnosis of tuberculosis in wildlife often relies on postmortem samples because of logistical challenges and lack of field-friendly techniques for live animal testing. Confirmation of infection through detection of infectious organisms is essential for studying the pathogenesis and epidemiology of disease. We describe the application of a technique to obtain respiratory samples from free-ranging living lions to facilitate detection of viable Mycobacterium bovis under field conditions. We identified M. bovis by mycobacterial culture and PCR in tracheobronchial lavage samples from 8/134 (6.0%) lions tested in Kruger National Park, South Africa. This confirms the respiratory shedding of viable M. bovis in living lions. The implications of these results are that infected lions have the potential to transmit this disease and serve as maintenance hosts.
authors: 1  Department of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research/Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research/Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa.
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Miller
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Buss
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Hofmeyr
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: Olea-Popelka
authors: Sven
authors: S
authors: Parsons
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: van Helden
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D005260:Female; D008045:Lions; D008297:Male; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Lion; Mycobacterium bovis; Panthera leo; TB; mycobacterial culture; tracheobronchial lavage