Prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in African buffalo at Kruger National Park

Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) was first detected in Kruger National Park (KNP) in a single African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) in 1990. In 1991/1992, 2,071 African buffalo were examined for BTB as part of a culling program that rem oved animals from all known herds in KNP. The prevalence of BTB in 1991/199 2 was estimated to be 0%, 4.4% (+/-0.6%), and 27.1% (+/-1.4%), in the north , central, and south zones of KNP, respectively. In 1998, a stratified, two -stage cluster sampling method was used to estimate that the prevalence of BTB was 1.5% (+/-2.5%), 16% (+/-5.3%), and 38.2% (+/-6.3%), in the north, c entral, and south zones, respectively. This represented a significant incre ase in prevalence (P less than or equal to 0.05) in the south and central z ones, but not in the north zone. Continued monitoring of BTB in KNP is impo rtant for understanding disease transmission risks, potential population ef fects, and the efficacy of disease management strategies. The methodology a nd sample sizes used in 1998 are appropriate fur future BTB monitoring in K NP.