Advanced tuberculosis in an African buffalo (Syncerus caffer Sparrman)

A necropsy conducted on an emaciated 8-year-old female African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) in the Kruger National Park, revealed gross pathological changes compatible with generalised bovine tuberculosis. Macroscopic lesions in the lungs and associated lymph nodes were of a caseous necrotic nature with liquefied foci. Mycobacterium bovis was cultured from pulmonary lesions. The distribution and the characteristics of the lesions are described and the conclusion is made that the initial route of infection was aerogenous with secondary bacterial metastasis to the intestine. It would also appear that the spread of infection within the animal was extremely rapid. The conjecture is made that due to the cavernous state of the pulmonary lesions, the animal was probably highly infective at the time of death. Environmental factors that may have had an influence on the pathogenesis of the disease are seasonal rainfall fluctuations, extreme temperature variations and harsh ultra-violet exposure.