Wildlife tuberculosis in South African conservation areas: implications and challenges

dc.contributor.authorMichel, Anita Luise
dc.contributor.authorBengis, Roy G.
dc.contributor.authorKeet, D.F.
dc.contributor.authorHofmeyr, Markus
dc.contributor.authorDe Klerk-Lorist, Lin Mari
dc.contributor.authorCross, Paul C.
dc.contributor.authorJolles, Anna E.
dc.contributor.authorCooper, Dave
dc.contributor.authorWhyte, I.J.
dc.contributor.authorBuss, Peter Erik
dc.contributor.authorGodfroid, Jacques
dc.contributor.emailjacques.godfroid@up.ac.zaen
dc.date.accessioned2007-05-11T06:58:19Z
dc.date.available2007-05-11T06:58:19Z
dc.date.issued2006
dc.description.abstractTuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium bovis, was first diagnosed in African buffalo in South Africa's Kruger National Park in 1990. Over the past 15 years the disease has spread northwards leaving only the most northern buffalo herds unaffected. Evidence suggests that 10 other small and large mammalian species, including large predators, are spillover hosts. Wildlife tuberculosis has also been diagnosed in several adjacent private game reserves and in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, the third largest game reserve in South Africa. The tuberculosis epidemic has a number of implications, for which the full effect of some might only be seen in the long-term. Potential negative long-term effects on the population dynamics of certain social animal species and the direct threat for the survival of endangered species pose particular problems for wildlife conservationists. On the other hand, the risk of spillover infection to neighboring communal cattle raises concerns about human health at the wildlife–livestock–human interface, not only along the western boundary of Kruger National Park, but also with regards to the joint development of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area with Zimbabwe and Mozambique. From an economic point of view, wildlife tuberculosis has resulted in national and international trade restrictions for affected species. The lack of diagnostic tools for most species and the absence of an effective vaccine make it currently impossible to contain and control this disease within an infected free-ranging ecosystem. Veterinary researchers and policy-makers have recognized the need to intensify research on this disease and the need to develop tools for control, initially targeting buffalo and lion.en
dc.description.sponsorshipThe authors are grateful to the South African Veterinary Foundation for funding of fundamental studies on bovine tuberculosis in lions and to the US NSF-NIH Ecology of Infectious Disease Grant for studies on the ecology of bovine tuberculosis in buffalo. We are grateful for financial assistance provided by the Smithsonian Institution for vaccine trials in buffalo and from the National Geographic Society, the Theresa Heinz Foundation, the Mellon Foundation and the Wildlife Conservation Society in support of research related to bovine tuberculosis buffalo in HiPen
dc.format.extent130116 bytes
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.citationMichel, AL, Bengis, RG, Keet, DF, Hofmeyr, M, De Klerk, LM, Cross, PC, Jolles, AE, Cooper, D, Whyte, IJ, Buss, P & Godfroid, J 2006. ‘Wildlife tuberculosis in South African conservation areas: Implications and challenges’, Veterinary Microbiology, vol. 112, issues 2-4, pp.91-10 [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03781135 ]en
dc.identifier.issn0378-1135
dc.identifier.other10.1016/j.vetmic.2005.11.035
dc.identifier.other55978917900
dc.identifier.otherN-8996-2014
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/2359
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherElsevieren
dc.rightsElsevieren
dc.subjectMycobacterium bovisen
dc.subjectWildlife–livestock–human interfaceen
dc.subjectAfrican wildlifeen
dc.subjectEpidemiologyen
dc.subjectBovine tuberculosisen
dc.subjectGame animalsen
dc.subject.lcshCommunicable diseases in animals -- South Africaen
dc.subject.lcshWildlife diseases -- South Africaen
dc.titleWildlife tuberculosis in South African conservation areas: implications and challengesen
dc.typePostprint Articleen

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