Brucellosis

• 100 to 200 cases occur each year in US• Worldwide distribution• More common in countries without good

standardized and effective public health and domestic animal health programs

• High risk areas: Portugal, Spain, Southern France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, North Africa, South and Central America, Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Middle East

Brucellosis

• abortions, infertility, and lowered milk production

• 1952 annual cost $400 M• < $1 M today• 1956 – 124,000 infected

herds in US• 1992 – 700 herds• 2000 – 6 herds• Undulant fever in humans

(flu-like symptoms, months to yrs)

• Since 2002, 48 states brucellosis-free status

Brucellosis

• bison and elk in GYA• Maintain free-ranging

bison and prevent exposure to cattle

• 1934 Brucellosis Eradication Program for bison in YNP, include border control program

• Until 1988, few bison left YNP

Brucellosis

• 1996-97 bison herd at record levels• Harsh winter• 1,079 bison that left YNP were shot• 1,300 bison in YNP starved• >50% of bison herd (+)

Brucellosis

• Wind Cave NP and Custer State Park, SD

• Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge, OK

• UV-B and temp important in determining how long Brucella viable in fetal tissue

• 3 days (late spring) to 78 days (mid-winter)

• Fetuses scavenged, avg 15 days

Brucellosis• Greater Yellowstone Interagency

Brucellosis Committee (GYIBC) = NPS, USFWS, USGS, USFS, USDA APHIS, Idaho, Montana Wyoming

• Developed Interagency Bison Management Plan (IBMP) to further the goals and objectives of the GYIBC. Agree on core principles:

– Conservation of viable wild and free-ranging elk and bison herds in the GYA

– Maintenance of a viable livestock industry in the GYA

• Commitment to the eventual elimination of brucellosis from bison and other wildlife.

Brucellosis

• Hazing efforts, capture testing and relocation, lethal removal

• RB51 vaccine

Bovine TB in MN

• Since 2005, 11 cattle farms• Since fall 2007, 21 wild deer (+); within 5 mi.

Bovine TB in MN• Fall 2006: Ban on rec. feeding

in 4,000 mi2 area• 2006-07: aerial survey = 900+

deer in core area; 29 illegal bait sites

• Feb 2007, contract with APHIS-WS = sharpshooting in core area

• Removed 488 deer (6+)• Fall 2007, new deer permit

area created for TB zone• 1,166 deer harvested (4+)• Prevalence estimated at

0.37%• Jan 2008 aerial survey = 800+

deer in core area

Bovine TB in Manitoba

• Since 1991, Manitoba 40 elk and 8 white-tailed deer have tested positive for bovine tuberculosis in the Riding Mountain area. 

Bovine TB

• UK• Badgers (Meles meles) and cattle

Bovine TB

• New Zealand• Brush tail possum

Bovine TB in MI

• History of bovine TB in Michigan cattle

• Bovine TB into wild deer herd; reservoir for reinfection of cattle

• 1975 TB + deer, Alcona Co.

• 1994 TB + deer, Alpena Co.

• Triggers testing of deer

Bovine TB in MI

• Michigan Bovine TB Eradication Project

• Multi-agency team of experts from the MDA, DNR, DCH, MSU, USDA

Bovine TB in MI

• Surveys of deer pop.• Testing of harvested

deer• Ban baiting• Reduce interactions

with cattle (conc. feed)

• Testing of cattle herds, depopulate if +

Bovine TB in MI• Coyotes as sentinels• 58 of 175 coyotes tested positive• Prevalence by county ranged from

19% to 52% (mean 33%, SE 0.07) • Prevalence in deer (n = 3,817)

was lower (i.e., 1.49%• Focus on coyotes rather than

deer, sampled 97% fewer individuals and increased the likelihood of detecting M. bovis by 40%.

• Sentinel coyote surveys have the potential to be practical indicators of M. bovis presence in wildlife and livestock.

VerCauteren et al. 2008