Conservation of White Rhinoceroses Threatened by Bovine Tuberculosis, South Africa, 2016-2017

Emerg Infect Dis. 2018 Dec;24(12):2373-2375. doi: 10.3201/eid2412.180293.

Abstract

During 2016-2017, when Kruger National Park, South Africa, was under quarantine to limit bovine tuberculosis spread, we examined 35 white and 5 black rhinoceroses for infection. We found 6 infected white rhinoceroses during times of nutritional stress. Further research on Mycobacterium bovis pathogenesis in white rhinoceroses is needed.

Keywords: Ceratotherium simum; Kruger National Park; Mycobacterium bovis; South Africa; bovine tuberculosis; conservation; granulomas; histology; mycobacteria; surveillance; tuberculosis; white rhinoceros; zoonoses.

Publication types

  • Letter
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Wild*
  • Cattle
  • Conservation of Energy Resources*
  • Mycobacterium bovis*
  • Public Health Surveillance
  • South Africa / epidemiology
  • Tuberculosis, Bovine / epidemiology*