Laboratory diagnostics of bovine tuberculosis in wildlife including bison

Abstract

Free-ranging wild animals have been the subject of researches for years. Bovine tuberculosis, Johne’s disease (paratuberculosis), yersiniosis, leptospirosis, brucellosis, anthrax, salmonellosis and colibacteriosis are the most common bacterial diseases in wildlife. The causative agent of bovine tuberculosis is Mycobacterium bovis the member of the
Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex group (MTC). Polish researchers indicate that bovine tuberculosis in bison used to be and still is evidenced in Poland. Until now tuberculosis has been occurring only in the population of bison from the Bieszczady region. Without thorough epidemiological survey, the source of infection can not be identified. The neighborhood of
Ukraine, where the disease remains uncontrolled, can be one of the infection risk factor. Mutual contacts of wildlife and cattle at pastures and meadows, where mycobacteria can survive even for many months, facilitate an interspecies transmission of tuberculosis.