Title
Feasibility of quarantine procedures for bison (Bison bison) calves from yellowstone national park for conservation of brucellosis-free bison
Author(s)
Clarke, P. R.;Frey, R. K.;Rhyan, J. C.;McCollum, M. P.;Nol, P.;Aune, K.
Published
2014
Publisher
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Abstract
Objective-To determine the feasibility of qualifying individuals or groups of Yellowstone National Park bison as free from brucellosis. Design-Cohort study. Sample-Serum, blood, and various samples from live bison and tissues taken at necropsy from 214 bison over 7 years. Procedures-Blood was collected from bison every 30 to 45 days for serologic tests and microbiological culture of blood for Brucella abortus. Seropositive bison were euthanized until all remaining bison had 2 consecutive negative test results. Half the seronegative bison were randomly euthanized, and tissues were collected for bacteriologic culture. The remaining se-ronegative bison were bred, and blood was tested at least twice per year. Cow-calf pairs were sampled immediately after calving and 6 months after calving for evidence of B abortus. Results-Post-enrollment serial testing for B abortus antibodies revealed no bison that seroconverted after 205 days (first cohort) and 180 days (second cohort). During initial serial testing, 85% of bison seroconverted within 120 days after removal from the infected population. Brucella abortus was not cultured from any euthanized seronegative bison (0/88). After parturition, no cows or calves had a positive test result for B abortus antibodies, nor was B abortus cultured from any samples. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Results suggested it is feasible to qualify brucellosis-free bison from an infected herd following quarantine procedures as published in the USDA APHIS brucellosis eradicat.

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PUB15061