VMD 512: Zoo/Wild Animal Breeding, Management, Nutrition and Health Care (1+1)

TUBERCULOSIS

• The disease is chronic in nature and is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium.
• This disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis is very common in general.
• These organisms are acid-fast in nature.

Species affected

• Almost all species are affected in general. The disease is somewhat widely prevalent in a captive wild animal atmosphere.
• Commonly affected species are given below:
  • Mammals (Non-human primates, deer, antelopes, felids, ursids, canids, elephants etc)
  • Aves (Raptors, Psittacine birds, Passerine birds, Anseriform birds etc.)

Mode of spread and significance

• Discharges from the body like vaginal discharge, exudates from the fistulous tracks, milk, sputum and excreta like feces and urine get contaminated with these microbes.
• The bacterial organisms are also shed in exhaled air also.
• This disease is zoonotic in nature.

Symptoms

• Emaciation despite moderate to good nutrition
• Anorexia
• Weakness
• Mild pyrexia
• Low pitched cough may be seen

Diagnosis and therapy

• By culture tests, ELISA tests, PCR tests etc. Tuberculin tests may have false positive results some times.
• In dead animals, the tubercles may be seen in various organs esp. the lungs. Smears from the lesions may be subjected to the staining for the diagnostic purpose.
• The therapy consists of usage of combination of drugs like isoniazid, ethambutol, pyrizanamide and rifampin. Enrofloxacin may also be used in the combination.