Mycobacterium bovis Infection in a Farmed Elk in Korea.
- Author:
Jae Hoon KIM
1
;
Hyun Joo SOHN
;
Kyung Il KANG
;
Won Il KIM
;
Jong Sam AN
;
Young Hwa JEAN
Author Information
1. Pathology Reference Division, National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service, Anyang, Kyunggi, 430-824, Korea. kimjhoon@nvrqs.go.kr
- Publication Type:Case Reports
- Keywords:
Elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni);
Mycobacterium bovis;
tuberculosis;
Langhans giant cell
- MeSH:
Animals;
DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics;
Deer/*microbiology;
Fatal Outcome;
Korea;
Lung/microbiology/pathology;
Male;
Mycobacterium bovis/genetics/*isolation&purification;
Polymerase Chain Reaction;
Tuberculosis/microbiology/*veterinary
- From:Journal of Veterinary Science
2002;3(3):163-166
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
A case of tuberculosis is reported in an eight-year-old, male, elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni). The elk showed severe coughing, respiratory distress, abdominal breathing, anorexia, and severe progressive emaciation in the elk farm. At necropsy, the elk appeared in poor body condition. Mild enlargement of retropharyngeal and submandibular lymph node was observed in the head. Diffuse fibrinous pleuritis and purple red lobar pneumonia were found in the thorax. Well demarcated numerous dark yellow discrete or confluent nodules from 0.3 to 2 cm in diameter were scattered in the whole lung. Bronchial and mediastinal lymph nodes were also enlarged. Histopathologically, lungs had typical classical tuberculous granulomas, multiple abscesses, and numerous macrophages and Langhans giant cells infiltration in alveolar lumen. In the lymph nodes, there were small clusters of necrosis and infiltration of numerous macrophages, epithelioid cells, and Langhans giant cells. With the acid-fast staining, numerous mycobacteria were revealed in the lung and lymph nodes. According to this study, there are differences of the histopathologic lesions and the numbers of acid-fast bacilli in the lesions between this elk and cattle. Mycobacterium bovis was confirmed as a causative agent in this elk using bacterial isolation, biochemical characteristics, and PCR technique. The isolate was negative for niacin test, nitrate reductase, and pyrazinamidase. This is a first report for bovine tuberculosis of farmed elk in Asia.
