Absence of Tuberculosis in Free-Ranging Deer in Nebraska

Lymph nodes from 271 white- tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in Nebraska (USA) were examined microscopically for tuberculoid lesions. Lymph nodes lesions in at least one node were found in 12 deer. Lesions were ex- amined with Zeihl-Neelson acid fast stains and by polymerase chain reactions using M. bovis specific probes. No evidence of tuberculosis was found. The small granulomatous lesions were likely caused by other bacteria. ing wild populations of ungulates to re- plenish animals in historic ranges and re- duce populations of ungulates in national parks and urban areas causes growing con- cern among wildlife biologists regarding