EVALUATION OF POPULATION EFFECTS OF BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS IN FREE-RANGING AFRICAN BUFFALO (<i>SYNCERUS CAFFER</i>)

Abstract

We examined data from 3,743 buffalo (Syncerus caffer) culled between 1991 and 1998 in Kruger National Park, South Africa, to evaluate effects of bovine tuberculosis on the buffalo population and examine risk factors of bovine tuberculosis. We found no evidence that bovine tuberculosis affected fertility or lactation status of female buffalo, but adult buffalo >3 years old were underrepresented in infected herds. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that older buffalo were at greater risk for bovine tuberculosis than younger buffalo and risk of acquiring bovine tuberculosis increased for all age groups as prevalence in the herd increased.