NORTHWEST TERRITORIES: >An outbreak of anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) in free-roaming bison in the Northwest Territories, June–July 2006

摘要

In summer 2006, an outbreak of anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) occurred in free-ranging wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) in the eastern Slave River Lowlands (SRL) in the Northwest Territories (NWT). The SRL are located northeast of Wood Buffalo National Park and are under the jurisdiction of the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT). Bison habitat in the SRL includes a matrix of lowland meadows located east (population ~ 350) and west (population ~ 400) of the Slave River. There is no road access to the SRL and despite potential for agricultural development (1), there is no tame forage or livestock production in this remote part of the Northwest Territories.