Bovine tuberculosis

 CAB International 2018. Bovine Tuberculosis

248 (eds M. Chambers, S. Gordon, F. Olea-Popelka, P. Barrow)

• Email: [email protected]

16.1 Introduction

In the preceding chapters the authors have dis-
tilled the current status of research on bovine
tuberculosis (TB) and the challenges and oppor-
tunities that lie ahead on the path to disease con-
trol. In this final chapter, we present some of our
own thoughts on the control of bovine TB, high-
lighting the relevant chapters where particular
issues are dealt with in more depth. While great
strides have clearly been made in our under-
standing of the fundamental pathogen biology
of Mycobacterium bovis and its interaction with
the bovine host, substantial challenges remain
in diagnosis, vaccination, disease epidemiology,
public health and ultimate eradication.

16.2 Epidemiology and One Health

As presented by Caceres et al. in Chapter 1, the
OIE reported that over the past 30 years there
was a consistent improvement in the global situ-
ation regarding bovine TB with the percentage

of affected countries decreasing by about 30%

during this period. However, in order to address

current and future challenges posed by bovine

TB, different countries and regions will need to

adhere to high standards to improve the preven-

tion, diagnosis, and control of the disease in

cattle herds, using approaches and tools that are

appropriate and effective under the field condi-

tions in each country/region. It is also recog-

nized that the prevention and control of M. bovis

infection and TB in cattle by the veterinary sec-

tor (and other animal species, as described by

Michel in Chapter 4) is crucial to prevent the

spread of M. bovis to humans (zoonotic TB). In

Chapter 2 Olea-Popelka et al. pointed out that

the impact of zoonotic TB on the global burden

of TB is unknown, poorly understood and most

likely underestimated. This is due to the lack of

systematic surveillance for M. bovis as a causal

agent of human TB in low-income, high TB bur-

den countries where bovine TB is also endemic,

and because the tests most commonly used to

diagnose human TB in many parts of the world,

such as sputum smear microscopy or GeneXpert

do not differentiate M. bovis from Mycobacterium

16 Perspectives on Global Bovine

Tuberculosis Control

Francisco Olea-Popelka,^1 Mark A. Chambers,2,3 Stephen Gordon^4

and Paul Barrow5,*

(^1) Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical
Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA;^2 Animal and
Plant Health Agency – Weybridge, Addlestone, Surrey, UK;^3 School of Veterinary
Medicine, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK;
(^4) UCD School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Republic
of Ireland;^5 School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham,
Sutton Bonington, Loughborough, UK