Md. Stetter et al., EPIZOOTIC OF MYCOBACTERIUM-BOVIS IN A ZOOLOGIC PARK, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 207(12), 1995, pp. 1618
An epizootic of Mycobacterium bovis in a zoologic park resulted in the
death of 4 southern white rhinoceroses and 2 colobus monkeys. Zoo per
sonnel were detected that had positive intradermal tuberculin skin tes
t results after exposure to mycobacterial-infected animals. On the bas
is of DNA fingerprinting, all 3 mycobacterial isolates (from 1 rhinoce
ros and 2 monkeys) were determined to be genetically similar and proba
bly originated From the same source. The 3 animals (1 rhinoceros and 2
colobus monkeys) that had confirmed infections lived in separate, but
adjacent, areas. Aerosolization of bacteria during routine cleaning w
as believed to have contributed to the unusual distance between infect
ed animals. Tuberculosis has reemerged as a major disease problem in h
uman and veterinary medicine.