Research overview: Mycobacterium bovis tuberculosis in Kruger National Park lions

Bovine tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium bovis, established itself in Kruger National Park after spilling from cattle into African buffalo, and lions preying on infected buffalo became widely exposed. This overview synthesizes research on TB prevalence in Kruger lions, the south-to-north spread following the buffalo epidemic, and the clinical course of emaciation, lameness and reduced survival in affected animals. It examines how the disease interacts with social structure, the difficulty of diagnosing TB in free-ranging cats, and modeled concerns about long-term population impact. The synthesis frames lion TB as a multi-host disease rooted in a livestock pathogen now entrenched in a wildlife ecosystem. It aims to convey why bovine TB became one of the most studied chronic disease threats facing southern African lions.