VN March 2023

Vetnews | March 2023 15 Study finds evidence of bovine TB in 15% of rhinos at South African national park June 92022 The largest study ever conducted on a free-ranging population of rhinoceroses reveals that about one in every seven rhinos in a key South African national park has been infected with Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis). This pathogen causes bovine tuberculosis (bTB). The finding shines new light on the potential for diseases to disrupt global conservation efforts and potentially increase the risk to human health if left unaddressed. The study—conducted by Stellenbosch University (SU) Animal Tuberculosis Research Group, South African National Parks (SANParks) Veterinary Wildlife Services and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance—tested samples from 437 rhinos collected from 2016 to 2020 in Kruger National Park. While the research results prompted concern, evidence provided by the study is crucial to support effective conservation efforts to protect the already vulnerable rhino population. Additionally, scientists with the AnimalTB ResearchGroup, situatedwithin SU’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, developed a novel diagnostic test to detect M. bovis infection in rhinos, which will greatly aid conservation efforts. These results are also relevant in the U.S., where bovine TB is rare but can occasionally be found in domestic cattle and other livestock. It can travel across landscapes by carrier species such as white-tailed deer, and it has reached endemic status among deer, bison and elk in parts of North America. “There are examples of bovine tuberculosis in wildlife systems throughout the world,” said Carmel Witte, PhD, a quantitative epidemiologist with San Diego ZooWildlife Alliance and senior author of the study.“In the United States, spillover of infection from cattle has spread to white-tailed deer in Michigan. This, in turn, can create spillback of infection into livestock, and carries a risk of spread to other wildlife and people.” Results revealed the presence ofM. bovis infection inan estimated15.4%of the blackandwhite rhinos studied. >>> 16