Wildlife Tuberculosis Study Group

After Bovine Tuberculosis (BTB) was first detected in the Kruger National Park in August 1990, follow-up sampling of buffalo showed that the disease was already well established in the southern region of the Park. This gave rise to the formation of a "TB Study group" initially made up of a small group of concerned veterinarians employed by Animal Health regulatory services, South African National Parks and academic institutions in 1991. The functions of this group were to characterise the organism and its ability to survive outside of a host, monitor the disease dynamics, identify and validate ante mortem tests for BTB, investigate the pathogenesis of the disease and describe the macro and histopathology.

As the disease spread northwards through the Kruger National Park in buffalo, infection was also detected in a range of new species, the TB study group was expanded to include biologists and ecologists.

The mission statement of the TB Study Group is:

To provide guidance, a platform for networking and facilitate coordinated programme development and funding in the southern African wildlife bovine tuberculosis (BTB) arena, in a way that serves the needs of stakeholders, especially the conservation and disease regulation agencies as well as the wildlife industry.

With the three main areas of discussion being:

1. Programme development and funding
2. Research framework
3. Collaboration

During the past 4 months, 6 kudus (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) with noticeble swellings of the head were reported in the southern region of the Kruger National Park. Unfortunately the veterinary personnel were only able to sample 2 of these animals. Due to the fact that kudus live in small family groups and are generally very well camouflaged, it is quite difficult to follow-up on the tourist reports of where kudus with head swellings were observed.

Both animals were females, the adult cow originating from the high water bridge area of Lower Sabie, while the younger sub-adult heifer was found at Skukuza. The kudus were euthanased and brought to the necropsy facilites of the State Veterinary office where detailed necropsies were performed and complete sample sets were collected for culture and histopathology.