ELEPHANT TB DIAGNOSTICS AND GUIDELINES

摘要

Background: Although tuberculosis in elephants has been sporadically occurring for as long as 2000 years, it "emerged" as a concern in elephants in the United States in 1996. Since the two elephants that died were part of a privately owned traveling herd, the issue of human and elephant health was raised. In response, an advisory panel was formed by the USDA-APHIS to provide recommendations on diagnostic and treatment protocols for the remaining elephants in the herd. Once five additional cases werediagnosed, protocols for surveillance, testing and treatment of all elephants were developed. These were published as the "Guidelines for the Control of Tuberculosis in Elephants" as Policy 21 under the Animal Welfare Act. Elephants are grouped by culture results and exposure history, with additional recommendations for monitoring and treatment. The initial guidelines were published in 1998, with further revisions made in 2000 and 2003 based on new information.