MYCOBACTERIUM-BOVIS IN COYOTES FROM MICHIGAN

During a survey for tuberculosis in wild carnivores and omnivores, Myc obacterium bovis was cultured from pooled lymph nodes of three adult f emale coyotes (Canis latrans) harvested by hunters in Michigan (USA). No gross or histologic lesions suggestive of tuberculosis were seen in these animals. One coyote was taken from Montmorency county and two c oyotes from Alcona county located in the northeastern portion of Michi gan's Lower Peninsula where free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) have been found infected with bovine tuberculosis. It is thought that these coyotes became infected with M. bovis through die consumption of tuberculous deer. Other species included in the survey were the opossum (Didelphis virginiana), raccoon (Procyon later), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), bobcat (Felis rufus), and badger (Taxidea taxus).