An outbreak of bovine tuberculosis in a free-living African buffalo (Syncerus caffer-Sparrman) population in the Kruger National Park: a preliminary report

Abstract

Bovine tuberculosis was diagnosed for the first time in an African buffalo ( Syncerus caffer) in the Kruger National Park (KNP). The index case was a 2-year-old, emaciated bull which had been found recumbent and obviously ill, near the south-western boundary of the KNP, in July 1990. During a follow-up random sampling of 57 buffalo, from two herds in close proximity to this initial case, nine more suspect cases were found. Mycobacterium bovis was isolated from a lung and thoracic lymph node, respectively, of two of these cases. Histopathologically, all nine of these animals had granulomatous lesions compatible with a diagnosis of mycobacteriosis, but acid-fast organisms could be demonstrated in only one animal.