Mycobacteria isolated from deer in New Zealand from 1970-1983

Authors: de Lisle GW, Havill PF
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 33, Issue 8, pp 138-140, Aug 1985
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Deer, Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant
Subject Terms: Bacterial, Biosecurity, Disease surveillance, Epidemiology, Mycobacterial, Disease/defect, Zoonosis, Infectious disease, Public health
Article class: Scientific Article

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Abstract: Mycobacterium bovis was isolated from 504 deer from 1970 to 1983. It was first isolated from feral red deer (Cervus elaphus) in New Zealand in 1970, and from farmed deer in 1978. Cervine tuberculosis has emerged as a significant problem in farmed deer and in 1983 M.bovis was found on 40 different farms. Thirty-five isolates of Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare have been cultured from deer but were associated with clinical disease in only four cases. Mycobacterium nonchromogenicum, Mycobacterium diernhoferi, Mycobacterium gastri, Mycobacterium chelonei, Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium vaccae were isolated from deer but were not considered to be pathogenic.

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