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Abstract. Hematologic and serum biochemical tests were used to monitor the health of 3 groups of bison in an experimental study of tuberculosis. Bison were randomly assigned to Mycobacterium bovis-infected, M. bovis -sensitized, and uninfected control groups. Hematologic measurements included total and differential leukocyte counts, hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), fibrinogen, and plasma proteins. Biochemical tests included serum urea nitrogen, creatinine, aspartate amino transferase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, serum calcium, and serum phosphorus.There were no significant differences (P = 0.05) in any test values between groups of bison. The bison data were combined and compared to similar data of cattle. The mean values for PCV and Hb were higher than values (PCV 24-46%, Hb 8-l5 g/dl) for cattle. Mycobacterium bovis -infected bison had a slight increase in the number of blood monocytes and lymphocytes when compared to the uninfected bison but were within the normal ranges for bison and cattle. Other hematologic parameters were within normal ranges reported for cattle. Creatinine levels in all bison were above the normal range (1.0-l.5 mg/dl) for cattle. Phosphorus levels for M. bovis-infected and M. bovis -sensitized bison exceeded the normal range (5.6-8.0 mg/dl) reported for cattle. The level for uninfected bison was near the upper limit of normal for cattle. Mean values for other serum biochemical tests were within the normal ranges reported for cattle. Definitive information is not available comparing biochemical and hematologic values of normal andMycobacterium bovis -infected bison. Information on normal bison is limited to 1 collection from 2 herds of American bison in Kansas 3,7 and 1 collection from a European bison in the Bronx Zoo. l Because biochemical and hematologic values are widely used in evaluating the health status of animals, there is need for this information.The objective of the study reported here was to determine the serum biochemical and hematologic values of normal and M. bovis -infected American bison and to compare them with similar data of cattle. Materials and methodsAnimals. Eighteen yearling male and female bison, originating from a herd in which tuberculosis or paratuberculosis had not been diagnosed, were used. Also, the herd of origin had no positive reactions to the tuberculin skin test given during the year before the study was initiated. The bison Presented at the 31st Annual Meeting of the AAVLD, Little Rock, AR, October 15-l8, 1988.Received for publication October 17, 1988. were randomly divided into 3 groups of 6 animals. Bison to be inoculated with M. bovis were housed in an isolation facility with appropriate filters in the air supply and exhaust system. The other bison were maintained in a loose housing facility on another premise. Inoculations. Mycobacterium bovis isolated from a bison with tuberculosis was used. Details of the culture methods and inoculum preparation have been reported previously. 5,6 Group I bison each received 0.03 mg (wet weight) of M...

An enzyme-labeled antibody test was used for detecting antibodies in serums from chickens infected experimentally with Mycobacterium avium serotype 2. Positive ELA reactions were observed in the serums of each of 8 chickens 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after infection; no reactions were observed in uninfected controls. Tuberculin skin tests did not induce positive ELA test reactions in uninfected chickens.

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