Tuberculosis in a Captive Antelope (Capricornis crispus)

Abstract

Bacteriological and pathological examinations were carried out on pathological materials (lung, liver, spleen, kidney, and heart) collected from an antelope (Japanese breed) which had been reared at a zoological garden and which died a natural death.
The acid-fast bacilli isolated from this animal were identified as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. They showed eugonic growth on glycerinated egg media and give positive niacin test. Their growth was inhibited by potassium tellurate. They revealed a limited virulence in inoculation test on rabbits.
Such pathological findings as characteristic of tuberculosis were observed in the lung, spleen, and liver.
From these findings, a possible transmission of tuberculosis from a captive animal to man would be considered.