Bovine Tuberculosis

Fact Sheet for Nebraska Deer Hunters

As deer hunting season gets underway, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is asking hunters for their assistance in monitoring the deer population for bovine tuberculosis (TB).
What is Bovine Tuberculosis? Bovine tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the Mycobacterium bovis bacteria. Facts About TB in Nebraska: Within the past year there has been a nding of bovine TB at a facility with a captive elk and fallow deer herd in northern Knox County. There also has been a nding of bovine TB in a beef herd in Rock County. The Commission recently sampled more than 40 wild white-tailed deer living near the Knox County facility where the infected animals were discovered. Ocials found no indication the disease had spread to the wild deer population. Subsequent testing in the Rock County beef herd also has yielded no additional cases. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture continues to test cattle for bovine TB throughout Nebraska. To date, 11,800 head have been tested with no positive cases.

ROCKY HOFFMANN

What Does Bovine TB Affect? Bovine TB primarily aects cattle, but can aect other mammals, including deer and humans. What Precautions Should Hunters Take? The Commission recommends hunters wear rubber gloves when eld dressing any wild game and fully cooking meat to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees. What to Look for When Field-Dressing Deer Tuberculosis-infected deer may have tan or yellow lumps lining the chest cavity, in the lung tissue, or in the lymph nodes of the cheek, head and neck. These signs could be mild, with only a few lumps, or severe. Deer are susceptible to many dierent diseases and parasites. Not all abnormalities encountered when eld dressing a deer may be related to TB.

Tuberculosis-infected deer may have multiple pea-sized tan or yellow lumps on the inside of the ribcage (left), or on the lungs (right). The lesions may be of dierent shapes and sizes than shown. What to Do if You Observe These Signs When Field-Dressing Deer Contact the nearest Commission oce so the deer may be examined. District I District II District III District IV District V District VI 299 Husker Rd., P.O. Box 725 524 Panzer St., P.O. Box 508 2201 N. 13th St. 301 E. State Farm Rd. 2200 N. 33rd St., P.O. Box 30370 1617 First Ave. Alliance, 69301 Bassett, 68714 Norfolk, 68701 North Platte, 69101 Lincoln, 68503 Kearney, 68847 (308) 763-2940 (402) 684-2921 (402) 370-3374 (308) 535-8025 (402) 471-0641 (308) 865-5310

For More Information Online Go to: cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/bovine_tuberculosis.pdf

MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

USDA-APHIS-VS