Absence Of Mycobacterium Bovis In Feral Swine (Sus Scrofa) From The Southern Texas Border Region.

Authors

Tyler A. Campbell, USDA/APHIS/WS National Wildlife Research CenterFollow
David B. Long, USDA WS National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, COFollow
Luiz R. Bazan, USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services
Bruce V. Thomsen, USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services Laboratories
SueLee Robbe-Austerman, USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services Laboratories
Ronald B. Davey, USDA-ARS
Liza A. Soliz, USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services
Seth Swafford, USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services
Kurt C. Vercauteren, USDA-APHIS-Wildlife ServicesFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2011

Comments

Published in Journal of Wildlife Diseases 47:974-978.

Abstract

Free-ranging wildlife, such as feral swine (Sus scrofa), harbor a variety of diseases that are transmissible to livestock and could negatively impact agricultural production. Information is needed regarding the exposure and infection rates of Mycobacterium bovis and many other diseases and parasites in feral swine occurring in the Texas border region. Our main objective was to determine exposure rates and possible infection rates of M. bovis in feral swine by opportunistically sampling animals from the Texas border region. From June to September 2010, we obtained samples from 396 feral swine and tested 98 samples for M. bovis by histopathology and mycobacteriologic culture. We found no evidence of M. bovis infection. We believe that it is important to periodically and strategically sample feral swine for M. bovis in high-risk areas of the United States because they are capable of becoming reservoirs of the disease.