In early 2003, an outbreak of malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) occurred in a bison feedlot in southern Idaho. The outbreak resulted in a 51.2% (n = 825) mortality rate among bison, which had been exposed to sheep for 19 days. Diagnosis was made by detection of ovine herpesvirus 2 (sheep-associated MCF virus) DNA in tissues or peripheral blood by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and by histologic...

We report the first complete sequences of the protein osteocalcin from small amounts (20 mg) of two bison bone (Bison priscus) dated to older than 55.6 ka and older than 58.9 ka. Osteocalcin was purified using new gravity columns (never exposed to protein) followed by microbore reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Sequencing of osteocalcin employed two methods of matrix-assist...

Anaplasma marginale Theiler is a tick-borne rickettsial pathogen of cattle with a global distribution in both temperate and tropical regions. The pathogen is endemic in regions within the United States, whereas the Canadian cattle population is considered to be free ofA. marginale. Farmed bison, Bison bison L., in central Saskatchewan have been found to be infected with A. marginale; however, t...

Reduced to near extinction in the late 1800s, a number of wood bison populations (Bison bison athabascae) have been re-established through reintroduction initiatives. Although an invaluable tool for conservation, translocation of animals can spread infectious agents to new areas or expose animals to pathogens in their new environment. Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, a bacterium tha...

Bison (Bison bison) and elk (Cervus elaphus) in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem have long been infected with Brucella abortus. The continued culling of large numbers of Yellowstone bison to reduce the risk of brucellosis transmission to cattle could negatively affect long-term conservation. A desirable management objective is to reduce the level of B. abortus infection while conserving wildli...

The epidermis of wild mammals is occasionally lacerated or punctured and wound care behaviours evolved to keep animals healthy in nature. Communal licking may promote healing affected sites, relieve stress after a traumatic experience, reinforce social bonds among individuals. Yet, there are few reported cases communal free-ranging mammals. We report observations ungulate—free-ranging bison (Bi...

The IS1311 polymerase chain reaction-restriction endonuclease analysis was used to detect genetic differences among 38 Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) isolates from cattle, sheep, goats and bison from distinct regions of Spain, India and the United States of America (USA). In Spain, all eight bovine isolates, three out of six caprine isolates and one of ten ovine isolates were...