Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
issue of tuberculosis in exotic animals. The result was the formation of the
National Tuberculosis Working Group for Zoo and Wildlife Species, which
brought together an interdisciplinary group representing the zoological,
wildlife, regulatory, and diagnostic fields. This working group created two
documents:
Guidelines for the Control of Tuberculosis in Elephants
, and the
Tu b e rc u l o s i s
Surveillance Plan for Non-Domestic Hoofstock
.
The surveillance plan was meant to estimate the incidence and prevalence of
the
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
complex (a group of mycobacteria including
M.
tuberculosis, M. bovis,
and
M. avium paratuberculosis
; henceforth referred to as
“TB”) in zoological collections, gather prospective data on diagnostic tests for
TB in order to establish sensitivity and specificity of the tests in exotic ungu-
late species, and provide guidance to state and zoo veterinarians in the case of
exposure to tuberculosis-infected animals. The working group established a
set of criteria for the system, including that it be Web-based and user friendly,
and that it provide assurance of confidentiality, real-time summaries of data
entered, and easy integration with other data/record keeping systems.
In order to obtain baseline information, a survey was sent to all AZA-
accredited zoological institutions that currently or previously held ungulates.
The survey was aimed at examining TB testing practices and establishing
the prevalence of TB in zoo ungulate populations. The results demonstrated
a prevalence of less than 5% (Ziccardi et al. 2000). However, testing practices
varied across institutions. Given this variation and the fact that the diagnos-
tic tests for TB are not validated for exotic species, it is difficult to accept this
prevalence estimate with much certainty.
As a result of the survey findings, the AZA Ungulate Tuberculosis
Monitoring Program was developed to create a mechanism by which long-
term prospective data on testing methods and results could be collected across
AZA institutions. Lincoln Park Zoo's (LPZ) Davee Center for Veterinary
Epidemiology (now the Davee Center for Epidemiology and Endocrinology)
constructed a Web site to house data from this surveillance and monitoring
system. The goal was not only to collect the information laid out by the work-
ing group but also to establish a tool for the long-term monitoring of other
diseases of importance to captive and free-ranging wildlife.
5.2.3 Structure and implementation of the System
The AZA Ungulate Tuberculosis Monitoring Program was a voluntary pro-
gram offered to all 210 AZA-accredited zoological institutions from 2003
until 2006. In order to make the system known to potential participants,
announcements were made at the Animal Health Committee meeting at the
annual AZA conference and at the general session and Infectious Disease
Committee meeting at the annual conference of the American Association
of Zoo Veterinarians (AAZV; Travis et al. 2003). Additionally, information
about the program, including how to participate, was listed on both the AZA
and the AAZV Web sites.
