Epidemiology and diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus)

Susan K. Mikota, Linda Peddie, James Peddie, Ramiro Isaza, Freeland Dunker, Gary West, William Lindsay, R. Scott Larsen, M. D. Salman, Delphi Chatterjee, Janet Payeur, Diana Whipple, Charles Thoen, Donald S. Davis, Charles Sedgwick, Richard J. Montali, Michael Ziccardi, Joel Maslow

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

74 Scopus citations

Abstract

The deaths of two Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in August 1996 led the United States Department of Agriculture to require the testing and treatment of elephants for tuberculosis. From August 1996 to September 1999, Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection was confirmed by culture in 12 of 118 elephants in six herds. Eight diagnoses were made antemortem on the basis of isolation of M. tuberculosis by culture of trunk wash samples; the remainder (including the initial two) were diagnosed postmortem. We present the case histories, epidemiologic characteristics, diagnostic test results, and therapeutic plans from these six herds. The intradermal tuberculin test, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay serology, the blood tuberculosis test, and nucleic acid amplification and culture are compared as methods to diagnose M. tuberculosis infection in elephants.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1-16
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Volume32
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2001

Keywords

  • Elephant
  • Elephas maximus
  • Loxodonta africana
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • Tuberculin test
  • Tuberculosis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Animal Science and Zoology
  • General Veterinary

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