Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a closed colony of baboons (Papio ursinus)

An outbreak of tuberculosis in a nonhuman primate 00108Y involved 11 of 91 (12'1%) baboons (papio. ursinus). Tuberoulin tests identified 80%, X-ray screening 10 % and throat swab bacteriology 30% of diseased animals. Cough was a misleading indioator of tuberc~ulosis. Stress resulting from experintental interference with animals was unrel~ted to disease development. Twice as many females as males were attacked. Screening and propl1ylactic, therapeutic and preventive measures are discussed. Despite the absence of tuberculous infections in primates in their natural environment there can be little doubt that in captivity this group becomes the most susceptible of all animals to tuberculosis. Many institutions around the world have frequently suffered severe losses from epizootics of tubercu-losis in primate colonies, with outbreaks typically involving approximately 30 % of animals befor