Tuberculosis in free-living deer

Abstract

Tissues from 130 wild deer shot by hunters in County Wicklow, Ireland in 1983-1984 were examined for evidence of tuberculosis. The tissues examined included the lymph nodes of the head, the lung substances and associated lymph nodes, the hepatic lymph nodes and kidneys. Gross lesions were found in five deer. Mycobacteria isolated from the tissues were classified as Mycobacterium bovis on the basis of cultural, biochemical and biological tests in guinea pigs and rabbits.