Bovine brucellosis and tuberculosis are of great veterinary, public health and economic significance throughout the world. Canada's livestock population was declared free of brucellosis in 1985, and bovine tuberculosis is expected to be eliminated by the end of 1987. The free-ranging bison in and around Wood Buffalo National Park (WBNP) are the final reservoirs of both diseases in Canada. These bison are no longer geographically isolated from people, livestock or other bison populations. Because of this changing situation, this dissertation was undertaken to understand and describe the basic pathological and epizootiological features of brucellosis and tuberculosis in bison and other wildlife in northern Canada.

The dissertation begins with a review of the diseases, parasites and other pathological conditions of bison, and evaluates the significance of brucellosis and tuberculosis in Canadian wildlife. It also provides a historical perspective of the management of bison and their diseases in and around WBNP. Aerial surveys were done to determine the number and distribution of bison in the region. The pathology, bacteriology and serology of brucellosis and tuberculosis were documented from a sample of hybrid bison in the WBNP region. Wood bison in the Mackenzie Bison Sanctuary were free of the diseases, and at risk of becoming infected through contact with the diseased hybrid bison in and around WBNP. Tuberculosis was not found in a broad sample of other wildlife species, but Brucella abortus was isolated from wolves, a fox and a moose in the region. The B. abortus isolates from wildlife were evaluated and compared to strains isolated from livestock. Cattle herds near WBNP were tested for brucellosis. Trace metal and heavy metal levels in bison tissues did not indicate deficiencies or toxicities that might contribute to the poor reproductive success of the hybrid bison population in WBNP.

The dissertation documents the effects of brucellosis and tuberculosis in bison and other wildlife, and identifies the risk of disease transmission beyond the presently infected bison population. This information is essential for designing and evaluating strategies for the control of these diseases in northern Canada.