Tuberculosis due to M tuberculosis has been reported in captive elephants. Lesions most often involve the lung and associated lymph nodes. Nonspecific responses are observed on immunologic tests; therefore, diagnosis should be made on an organism-based test of trunk washes. Multidrug regimens have been developed that eliminate shedding of M tuberculosis in discharges and minimize development of drug-resistant strains.

Last full review/revision March 2012 by Charles O. Thoen, DVM, PhD