Mycobacterium bovis infection in primates in Dublin Zoo: epidemiological aspects and implications for management

An outbreak of tuberculosis in non-human primates was successfully contained in the isolation area of Dublin Zoo. A Mayotte lemur, a lion-tailed macaque, a Patas monkey and a Siamang gibbon developed tuberculosis, and Mycobacterium bovis was isolated from all but the lemur, from which lesions were not cultured. Procedures for the prevention of tuberculosis in primate collections and for the management of outbreaks are discussed. The need for typing of the isolated pathogen is emphasized.