title: Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in Three Zoo Elephants and a Human Contact - Oregon, 2013.
abstract: In 2013, public health officials in Multnomah County, Oregon, started an investigation of a tuberculosis (TB) outbreak among elephants and humans at a local zoo. The investigation ultimately identified three bull elephants with active TB and 118 human contacts of the elephants. Ninety-six (81%) contacts were evaluated, and seven close contacts were found to have latent TB infection. The three bulls were isolated and treated (elephants with TB typically are not euthanized) to prevent infection of other animals and humans, and persons with latent infection were offered treatment. Improved TB screening methods for elephants are needed to prevent exposure of human contacts.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zlot
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vines
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nystrom
authors.forename: Lindsey
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Behm
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Denny
authors.forename: Mitch
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Finnegan
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hostetler
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Storms
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: DeBess
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000382:microbiology*; D016358:Contact Tracing; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D004606:Elephants; D006801:Humans; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D009922:Oregon / Q000453:epidemiology; D014374:Tuberculin Test / Q000662:veterinary; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*