**3. Results**

The bibliographic search yielded 286 articles. Initially, title and abstracts were reviewed and 247 articles excluded because they deal only with laboratory/pathology investigations (n=74), domestic animals (n=41), humans (n=50), other geographical regions (n=79), or were review/model articles (n=3). Full text papers were then reviewed and further 6 papers were excluded because they focused exclusively on laboratory/pathology investigations. Therefore 33 articles were selected as of interest to the present review.

Wildlife Tuberculosis: A Systematic Review of the Epidemiology in Iberian Peninsula 277

targeted surveillance on hunted (6/14) or culled (3/14) animals, the rest relying on scanning surveillance in routine meat inspection schemes for detection of macroscopic lesions-like lesions (Table 1-2). The mean number of animals studied in targeted-design studies is 278 for wild boar (n=9, range 96-1.060) and 401 for red deer (n=6, range 95-1.368). Thirteen out of fourteen studies use bacteriological culture as the diagnostic test. Nevertheless most of them (9/14) also include a previous screening test (usually gross pathology or routine meat inspection schemes), followed by bacteriological culture when macroscopic lesions were

As regards studies on other host species (ungulates and carnivores), 5/14 are case reports, 6/14 surveys while 3/14 are cross sectional studies (Table 3). Five out of twelve studies rely on passive surveillance of haphazardly found carcasses and 3/12 on targeted surveillance of purposefully trapped animals. Most of these studies deal with carnivore species. As expected regarding novel host species, 3/12 studies are case reports (Table 3). Mean number of animals studied in survey studies is 105 for fallow deer (n=4, range 89- 134), 63 for badger (n=3, range 2-157) and 15 for Iberian lynx (n=5, range 1-39). Most other species (Table 5) are dealt in single studies, usually as case reports. Serologic tests were used in 3/9 studies investigating other host species, such as Barbary sheep and carnivores

For the wild boar populations surveyed by targeted-design studies using bacteriological culture as diagnostic test on all animals (n=6), prevalence rates ranged 0,11-0,53, with a meta prevalence rate of 0,36 (Table 5). Including all studies, regardless of design, prevalence rates ranged 0,18-1 (Table 1). For the red deer populations surveyed by targeted-design studies using bacteriological culture as diagnostic test on all animals samples (n=3), prevalence rates ranged 0,02-0,27, with a meta prevalence rate of 0,21 (Table 5). Including all studies, regardless of design, prevalence rates ranged 0,01-0,44 (Table 2). For the fallow deer populations surveyed by targeted-design studies using bacteriological culture as diagnostic test on all animals samples (n=4), prevalence rates ranged 0,13-0,67, with a meta prevalence rate of 0,28 (Table 5). For other host species, the sample size and/or the study design do not

Few studies address or allow addressing the time trend of bTB prevalence rates. In Doñana, bTB was not detected in targeted wildlife health surveillance until 1990's, when the population of cattle greatly increased, while in 2000's high prevalence rates were found in all ungulate species (Gortázar *et al*., 2008). In fact, prevalence rates in this area increased from 1998-2003 to 2006-2007 by 100% in wild boar and 50% in red deer (Gortázar *et al*., 2011b). In Extremadura region, West-central Spain, prevalence rates detected in routine meat inspection schemes steadily raised from 1994-2004, while not detected in 1992-1993 (de Mendonza *et al*., 2006). One study area in South-eastern Portugal showed an increase in *M. bovis* infection rates in wild boar from 0,46 in 2005/06 (Santos *et al*., 2009) to 0,78 in 2009/11

observed (Table 1-2).

(Table 3).

**3.2 Prevalence rates** 

allow meta analysis.

(Santos *et al*., unpublished data).

**3.3 Trends** 


Table 1. Studies dealing with wild boar included in the analysis. Classification: SU – survey; CS - cross sectional study; CC – case-control study; Screening/diagnostic test: MI – official meat inspection scheme; GP – gross pathology; BC – bacteriological culture; SE – serology; Fencing: FR – free-ranging populations; FE – fenced populations; MX – mixed free-ranging and fenced populations.
