Tuberculosis in a free-living brown hare (Lepus europaeus occidentalis)

A free-living brown hare (Lepus europaeus occidentalis) trapped during a survey of tuberculous possums in the Ahaura Valley, Westland, was found to have both microbiological and histopathological evidence of infection with Mycobacterium bovis. The mesenteric lymph nodes were enlarged and showed extensive caseation, tuberculous nodules were present in the liver and kidney, and there was a proliferative pleurisy. Histologically, characteristic tuberculous granulomatous foci were seen in the mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, kidney, pleura and lungs, often in association with small numbers of acid-fast organisms. This is the first report of naturally occurring tuberculosis due to M. bovis in the brown hare.