U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research: Ames, IA
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    CareersSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Midwest Area Ames, Iowa National Animal Disease Center Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            Palmer, Mitchellitem
                                            Thacker, Tyleritem
                                            Waters, Wade
  Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
                                    Publication Type: Abstract Only
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 8/4/2009
                                    Publication  Date: 8/4/2009
                                    Citation: Palmer, M.V., Thacker, T.C., Waters, W.R. 2009. Shared Feed as a Means of Deer to Deer and Deer to Cattle Transmission of Mycobacterium bovis [abstract]. Minnesota Bovine Tuberculosis Stakeholders Conference. p. 100.Interpretive Summary:
                                Technical Abstract: Human to human transmission of M. tuberculosis is primarily via a respiratory route. The focus of lesion development in the lungs in human TB patients supports inhalation as a primary means of transmission. The closely related M. bovis is the cause of tuberculosis in most animal species. In white-tailed deer, the most common site for lesion development is the retropharyngeal lymph nodes, suggesting a route other than inhalation as the primary means of disease transmission. To examine shared feed as a possible means of transmission, feed was moved from the pens of infected deer to those of naïve deer for 150 consecutive days. On a daily basis infected deer were fed an excess of feed. After approximately 8 hrs., remaining feed was moved to pens of naïve deer. There was no opportunity for direct contact or aerosol transmission between infected and naïve deer. All naïve deer developed tuberculosis and M. bovis was isolated from multiple tissues. Similarly designed studies using experimentally infected white-tailed deer and naïve 6-month-old calves revealed similar findings in that 44% of calves developed tuberculosis and M. bovis was isolated from multiple tissues. Results of these studies indicate that experimentally infected deer can transmit M. bovis to other deer or cattle through the sharing of feed only, with no opportunity for direct contact or aerosol transmission. In areas where tuberculosis in endemic in free-ranging white-tailed deer, efforts should be made to eliminate intentional and unintentional feeding of wildlife, and preventing access of wildlife to feed intended for cattle.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov