Tuberculosis

Definition of Tuberculosis
(Scientific name: Mycobacterium tuberculosis)

From the elephant glossary Section: disease

Relevant Literature about Tuberculosis
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Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex

M tuberculosis, M bovis, M africanum and M microti

TB is airborne and spreads through tiny droplets in the air. Symptoms of TB: chronic weight loss, diminished appetite, chronic nasal discharge, coughing, and intolerance to exercise, and unnormal volumes of drinking water.

Between 1994 and 2006, there have been 36 culture-confirmed cases of tuberculosis in U.S. elephants, most of them asian elephants (Report of the Committee on Tuberculosis, Elephant TB Diagnostics and Guidelines by Michele Mille).

From Biology, Medicine, and Surgery of Elephants, 2006 by Murray Fowler, Susan K. Mikota

Elephant Tuberculosis (by Susan Mikota)
Definition. Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious bacterial disease affecting numerous Species. TB occurs in primates, elephants, rhinoceroses, tapirs, domestic and nondomestic bovidae, other nondomestic ungulates, and psittacine birds.

TB has been known to occur in elephants for over 2000 years.127 Reports from the 19th and early 20th centuries25,6,50,84,207,286 described the disease in Asian elephants. The first report of TB in African elephants was in 1962. 95,96 Additional reports appeared in the middle of the 20th century.100,107,133,229,254,267 In 1994 TB “emerged” as a disease of concern for captive elephants in North America, and between 1994 and 2005, 34 cases were confirmed (Mikota, unpublished). TB has also been reported in elephants in Europe.

Biology, Medicine, and Surgery of Elephants, 2006 by Murray Fowler, Susan K. Mikota

Tuberculosis (TB) is a re-emerging infectious disease that can be transmitted within and between humans and animal Species by transfer of mycobacteria of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC). Its main representatives are M. tuberculosis (1), particularly infecting humans, and M. bovis hosted by a broad range of domestic and wild animals, as well as humans. Infection of captive and wild Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) with M. tuberculosis has been shown worldwide (4–7). Transmission of M. tuberculosis from humans to elephants as well as other Species and vice versa, is likely to happen in situations of close and prolonged contact and may occur via air, droplets, mucus and feces (1, 4, 6, 8–12). Transmission between domesticated and wild elephants may furthermore occur in direct contact at their interface (6, 13–15) and, because mycobacteria can survive for more than 45 days in the environment, shared facilities and resources may be major risk factors for infection with M. tuberculosis. Especially in countries in South East Asia, like Thailand where TB prevalence in humans is very high, zoo employees, including ground keepers and custodians show a high incidence of interferon gamma release assay or tuberculin skin test positivity, indicating (latent) infection, related to their socio-economic background, thus identifying them as potential risk factors for the animals in their care.
Taweepoke et.al

77 Elephants suffering of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Name	Species Sex	Origin	Age	Birth	Death date	Death reason	Parents	Arrival Death location
+ -Tusker-	LA M	wild	31	1992	2023-08-09	euthanised Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	2021-04-07 Basel Zoo
+ -Balarama-	EM M	wild	67	1956?	2023-05-07	unknown suspected Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	Mathigodu elephant Camp
+ -Reghuram Manisseri-	EM M	unknown	53	1968	2021-06-09	disease collapsed, due to Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and foot disease	x	1999-00-00 Vadakkoot Haridas
+ -Guruvayur Vailya Kesavan-	EM M	wild	?		2021-03-29	disease abscess on its back. Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)?	x	2000-05-09 Guruvayur Devaswom elephant camp
+ -Athi-	EM M	unknown	23	1997	2020-08-24	unknown collapsed 23rd, dead 24. Diagnosed with Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) July	x	2002-10-11 Ueno Zoo
+ -Airavata-	EM M	wild	?		2018-05-00	Heart-Related Ailment, Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)?	x	Mathigodu elephant Camp
+ -Rajeshwari-	EM F	captive-born	40	1978	2018-04-21	euthanised acute Elephant TB (Mycobacterium Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis))	x Gowri	1982-00-00 Arulmigu Sugavaneswarar Temple
+ -Bharatha-	EM M	wild	7	2010	2017-12-00	disease bacterial infection, possibly Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)?	x	2013-08-28 Theppakadu Mudumalai Forest Camp (MFC)
+ -Sasi-	EM M		?		2017-10-18	disease Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)?	x	Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB)
+ -Luxmi-	EM F	wild	?		2017-06-02	disease Asphysixa resulting from suppurative pneumonitis. Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)?	x	Amer Fort elephant village
+ -Packy-	EM M	captive-born	55	1962-04-14	2017-02-09	euthanised because of Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	Thonglaw x Belle	1962-04-14 Portland Zoo (Metro Washington Park Zoo)
+ -Hamsa Raj-	EM M	wild	65	1952	2017	disease Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)?	x	Kerala unspecified location
+ -noname (wild)-	LA	wild	?		2017	disease Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	Kruger National Park
+ -noname (wild)-	EM F	wild	?		2016-12-08	disease severe lung infection, Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)?	x	Nagarhole National Park
+ -Narmada-	EM F	wild	?		2016-12-01	disease severe heart attack, bacterial infection, possibly Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)?	x	2013-08-28 Theppakadu Mudumalai Forest Camp (MFC)
+ -Krishna-	EM M	wild	?	~2006	2016-11-00	disease bacterial infection, possibly Elephant TB (Mycobacterium Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis))?	x	2013-08-28 Theppakadu Mudumalai Forest Camp (MFC)
+ -Venattumattam Ganesan-	EM M		32	1984	2016-10-05	disease Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	Pravithanam private owner
+ -Boonkong-	EM M	wild	?		2016-08-24	disease Elephant TB (Mycobacterium Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis))	x	FAE Elephant Hospital
+ -Tusko-	EM M	wild	44	1971	2015-12-22	euthanised foot problems and Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	2005-06-20 Portland Zoo (Metro Washington Park Zoo)
+ -Kadar Fathima Beevi-	EM F	wild	?		2015-12-15	Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)?	x	Nagore Dargah (Hazrat Syed Shahul Hameed Dargah)
+ -Sumatra-	EM F	wild	52	1963	2015-06-00	disease Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis), kidney failure	x	Knies Kinderzoo
+ -Nang Lieng-	EM F	unknown	41	1974	2015-05-07	disease collapsed, Elephant TB (Mycobacterium Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis))?	x	Buon Don Eco Tourism Company
+ -Laxmi Kali-	EM F	unknown	?		2014-09-29	disease Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	Holiday Safari
+ -Greta (Griet)-	LA F	wild	31	1983	2014-09-26	euthanised Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	2012-08-27 Beekse Bergen Safaripark
+ -Betty (Betje)-	LA F	wild	31	1983	2014-03-19	disease Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)?	x	2012-08-27 Beekse Bergen Safaripark
+ -Jewel (Cutie)-	EM F	wild	61	1952	2013-09-08?	euthanised arthritis and severe musculoskeletal problems, Necropsy positive for Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	2011-06-08 Little Rock Zoological Gardens
+ -Buon Nhan-	EM F	unknown	64	1949	2013-04-09	unknown Elephant TB (Mycobacterium Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)) positive?	x	Y Glur B Krong
+ -Sabu (Look Chai)-	EM M	captive-born	30	1982-10-01	2012-01-11	euthanised Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis), and severe arthritis?	Tunga (Tonga) x Hanako	2010-10-00 PAWS ARK 2000
+ -Frida-	EM F	wild	?		2011-09-06?	anesthesia Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	1998-00-00 Quilpue Zoo (El Parque Zoológico de Quilpué)
+ -Loisaba-	LA F	wild	13	1998-01-00	2011-06-28	disease pneumonia indicating Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) or Cancer	x	Tsavo National Park
+ -Rebecca-	EM F	wild	50	1961	2011-01-08	euthanised polyathritis, Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)?	x	2004-01-20 PAWS ARK 2000
+ -Deepa-	EM F	wild	4	2007	2011-01-06	anesthesia congestive heart failure, Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)?	x	2004-00-00 Kaziranga Center for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC)
+ -Salaita-	LA M	wild	2	2008	2010-11-14	disease pneumonia indicating Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) or Cancer?	x	2010-09-25 DSWT Ithumba
+ -Dondi-	EM F	wild	36	1974	2010-07-28	disease Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	1975-04-00 Phil Schacht
+ -Jan-	EM F	wild	37	1971	2008-04-11	disease Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	1985-00-00 Tarzan Zerbini Circus
+ -Miss Elly-	LA F	wild	?		2007?	disease possibly Elephant TB (Mycobacterium Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis))?	x	Adventure Zone (Safari Par Excellence)
+ -Sumathi-	EM F	wild	?		2006-11-03	disease Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)?	x	1987-00-00 Palani Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Temple
+ -Lota-	EM F	wild	53	1952	2005-02-10	disease Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	2004-11-17 Tennessee Elephant Sanctuary (TES)
+ -Radha-	EM F	wild	?		2005	Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	Mumbai Byculla Jijamata Udyan zoo
+ -Shona-	LA F	wild	14	1990	2004-12-08	euthanised Positive Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) trunk-wash test	x	1993-00-00 Boras Zoo
+ -Tatima (Deteema)-	LA F	wild	35	1969	2004-10-15	disease Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	2003-04-21 Lincoln Park Zoo
+ -Roma-	EM F	wild	44	1960	2004-10-08	euthanised osteoarthritis, Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	Two Tails Ranch
+ -Calle-	EM F	wild	37	1967	2004-03-06	euthanised Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis), arthritis	x	1997-03-19 San Francisco Zoo
+ -Myntrik-	LA F	wild	20	1984	2004-01-30	euthanised Positive Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) trunk-wash test	x	1998-07-13 Peaugres Safaripark
+ -Donkey-	EM F	wild	38	1965	2003-05-26	euthanised Positive Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) trunk-wash test	x	1965-00-00 Kolmarden Zoo
+ -Sandai-	EM F	wild	18	1985	2003-05-14	euthanised Positive Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) trunk-wash test, delivery problem	x	2000-08-23 Kolmarden Zoo
+ -stillborn-	EM M	captive-born	0	2003-05-14	2003-05-14	stillborn Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)? Calf died in utero prior to caesarean section	Brahma x Sandai	2003-05-14 Kolmarden Zoo
+ -Jenny-	EM F	wild	38	1964	2002-11-27	disease Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	2002-00-00 Circus Fliegenpilz
+ -Brahma-	EM M	wild	20	1982	2002-09-29	euthanised Positive Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) trunk-wash test	x	1994-03-30 Kolmarden Zoo
+ -Mida-	EM F	wild	27	1975	2002-02-11	euthanised Positive Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) trunk-wash test	x	1985-02-16 Kolmarden Zoo
+ -Putschie-	EM F	wild	30	1971	2001-10-31	euthanised Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	1990-05-02 Kolmarden Zoo
+ -Siwa-	EM F	wild	48	1952	2000-10-12	disease Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	1955-08-31 Wuppertal Zoo
+ -Nancy-	LA F	wild	47	1953	2000-08-23	euthanised Post mortum: Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	1956-09-18 Smithsonian National Zoological Park Washington
+ -Carolyn-	EM F	wild	32	1968	2000-04-11	disease Pyelonephritis, Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis), arthritis	x	1991-09-26 St Louis Zoo
+ -Tetchi (Teetchie)-	EM F	wild	52	1947	1999-10-08	euthanised osteoarthritis in multiple joints and an M. Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) infection of the lung	x	1968-11-00 Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus (Red Unit)
+ -Kooboo-	LA M	wild	?		1999	disease Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	1995-00-00 Wuppertal Zoo
+ -Miriam (Maria?)-	EM F	wild	32	1966	1998-03-00	anesthesia kidney problems, Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)?	x	Circus Afrika
+ -Annie-	EM F	wild	32	1965	1997-03-22	disease salmonella; Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	1994-04-18 Los Angeles Zoo
+ -Tunga (Tonga)-	EM M	wild	32	1964	1996-09-19	disease massive heart failure. Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)?	x	1991-07-03 Hawthorn Corporation
+ -Hattie-	EM F	wild	26	1970	1996-08-07	disease Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	1990-05-18 Hawthorn Corporation
+ -Joyce-	EM F	wild	48	1948	1996-08-03	anesthesia during dental work, Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	1970-00-00 Hawthorn Corporation
+ -Khali-	EM F	wild	19	1976	1995	disease Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	1979-12-29 Budapest Zoo
+ -Taku (Taki, Chajeng)-	EM F	wild	26	1962	1988-08-15	disease Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	1984-04-27 Augsburg Zoo
+ -Thaia-	EM F	wild	22	1966	1988	euthanised Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	1980-09-08 Zurich Zoo
+ -Dinah-	EM F	wild	38	1946	1984-06-06	disease Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)?	x	1970-07-08 Copenhagen Zoo
+ -Moti (Mohti)-	EM M	wild	25	1948	1973-05-24	anesthesia Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	1962-04-17 Hannover Zoo
+ -Babe-	EM F	wild	35	1923	1958	disease Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	1945-00-00 Clyde Beatty Circus
+ -Borneo (Buldiu)-	EM M	wild	?		1943	disease Elephant TB (Mycobacterium Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis))	x	1940-00-00 Munich Zoo
+ -Jumbo-	LA M	wild	?		1940	disease Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	1925-00-00 Dresden Zoo
+ -Jumbo II (Safari)-	LA M	wild	12	1924	1936-11-26	disease Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	1934-12-19 Cole Brothers Circus
+ -Sandrina-	EM F	wild	?		1935-07-05	disease Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	1929-05-12 Rome Zoo
+ -Bambina-	EM F	wild	?	>1907	1927	disease anemiia, Elephant TB (Mycobacterium Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis))?	x	Circus Strassburger
+ -Jenny (Butcher, Putcher)-	EM F	captive-born	25	1850-07-00	1875-07-07	disease Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x Katimeh (Betsy)	1851-04-19 London Zoo
+ -Madras-	EM F	wild	0			disease Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	2009-00-00 Zooparque Itatiba
+ -Jill-	EM F	wild	-1946	1946-10-00		disease Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	1960-00-00 King Brothers Circus
+ -Andal-	EM M	unknown	0			unknown Elephant TB (Mycobacterium Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis))	x	2019-12-00 Top Slip Kozhikkamuthy Elephant camp (Annaimalai)
+ -Periyanayagi-	EM F	unknown	0			diagnosed with Elephant TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)	x	2008-04-00 Madras Vandalur Zoo

Tuberculosis is mentioned on 1 other pagesTuberculosis,

Tuberculosis is mentioned on 2 person pagesHippolyte Houcke, John Robinson,

Tuberculosis is mentioned on 8 location pagesCircus Strassburger, Dickerson Park Zoo, Elephant Walk, Kolmarden Zoo, PAWS ARK 2000, Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation, Tennessee Elephant Sanctuary (TES), Tsavo National Park,

Tuberculosis is mentioned on 20 elephant record pagesAiravata, Airawat, Albert, Alice, Andal, Annie, Athi, Bambina, Birendra Prasad, Brahma, Champa Kali, Deepa, Dok Koon, Donna, Donna, Frida, Fuku-chan, Hattie, Jenny (Butcher, Putcher), Jewel (Cutie),

Reference list Koehl, Dan, (2025). Tuberculosis. Elephant Encyclopedia, available online retrieved 20 September 2021 at https://www.elephant.se/index.php?id=236. (archived at the Wayback machine)

Sources used for this article is among others:

*FOWLER

Selected publications

Taweepoke Angkwanish1, Hans J. C. M. Vernooij, Anucha Sirimalaisuwan, Pattara Charernpan, Mirjam Nielen and Victor P. M. G. Rutten, Prevalence and Demographic Risk Factors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infections in Captive Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) Based on Serological Assays

Links about Tuberculosis

Selected external links for this article about Tuberculosis:

Lewerin et al., 2005, S.S. Lewerin, S.L. Olsson, K. Eld, B. Röken, S. Ghebremichael, T. Koivula, G. Källenius, G. Bölske, Outbreak of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection among captive Asian elephants in a Swedish zoo, https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1136/vr.156.6.171
Recommendations for TB in Elephants in Human Care, https://elephantconservation.org/iefImages/2017/05/RecommendationsAugustFINAL2017.pdf
Taweepoke Angkwanish1, Hans J. C. M. Vernooij, Anucha Sirimalaisuwan, Pattara Charernpan, Mirjam Nielen and Victor P. M. G. Rutten, Prevalence and Demographic Risk Factors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infections in Captive Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) Based on Serological Assays (2021), online

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Categories glossary | disease

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Definition of Tuberculosis(Scientific name: Mycobacterium tuberculosis)