Wildlife Genetics
» Animal TB
Bovine
TB (BTB) affects many species of wildlife, such as buffalo, kudu, lion,
leopards, baboons and many more. This is of particular concern in
species of ecological and economic importance, such as buffalo and lion.
Buffalo maintain and transmit BTB within the population, and lions
become infected either through the consumption of infected prey, or
during prey capture. Many factors influence the outcome of infection by a
pathogen - host genetic factors interact with environmental factors and
the genome of the pathogen to determine whether an animal becomes
diseased. Identifying the genetic factors influencing BTB infection in
susceptible wildlife species could provide targets for drug/vaccine
development, as well as provide important information for selective
breeding programmes. This will be vital for future management strategies
in South African national parks and within the commercial sector.
