The incidence of transmission to wild animals is considered rare, but it rises quickly as their association with humans and domestic animals increases. High incidence is seen in captive wildlife, similar to the distribution observed in cattle. Some animals show few or no outward signs of infection, resulting in transmission to the herd before detection. In extreme cases pulmonary infection and subsequent lesion development causes a low, chronic, moist cough which may progress to bronchitis, broncho-pneumonia, and eventual respiratory failure. In chronic cases loss of appetite, painless swelling of the lymph nodes and emancipation are observed.
Most ungulates develop a chronic long-term wasting disease, as seen in infected domestic cattle.
In male deer abnormal antler development is observed, although such alterations of antler growth are a symptom of various other diseases and starvation. Experimental inoculation of deer produced hyper pigmentation, abnormal hair growth, and necrosis at the site of injection. The bacilli multiply in the cell, eventually rupturing it. These tubercles may remain filled with soft, pus-like material which undergoes varying degrees of calcification, or the material may be removed leaving an empty cavity. Current Status on Game Farms Tuberculosis is found throughout the world.