Bovine Tuberculosis Lab

This laboratory investigates all areas of Mycobacterium bovis infection in both domestic and wild animal species. Our laboratory has conducted a series of studies evaluating the susceptibility and possible role in transmission of M. bovis in wild bird species, including crows, starlings, pigeons, turkeys and mallard ducks. We have developed an animal model for aerosol infection using opossums. There has been a series of studies evaluating the pathogenesis of M. bovis in wild rodents, including house mice, meadow voles and Norway rats. Multiple efficacy trials of a new subunit vaccine have been conducted in a laboratory animal model. Current studies include development of a cat model to develop new antemortem diagnostic assays to detect M. bovis infection and evaluation of new field tests for detection on M. bovis infection in cattle and deer.

Members of our team also have been extremely active in the surveillance for M. bovis in both domestic and wild animal species in Michigan. This work has lead to new information on disease incidence and distribution, studies that have revealed the true rather than apparent prevalence of the disease, improved descriptions of the lesions in deer, contributed to the decline in disease prevalence from over 4 percent to around 1 percent in combination with disease management practices, and developed surveillance techniques for tuberculosis in deer that have been used by many other state wildlife associations.