38 H. Yahyaoui Azami and J. Zinsstag
the test-and-slaughter strategy was applied for
10 years followed by 20 years of surveillance
campaign (Schiller et al., 2011). Australia also
successfully controlled bovine TB using a man-
datory test-and-slaughter strategy (Cousins and
Roberts, 2001). Test-and-slaughter is the only
control strategy that shows success for the con-
trol and elimination of bovine TB; however, this
strategy remains unaffordable for developing
countries, primarily because of the compensa-
tion needed for the slaughtered cattle (Ayele
et al., 2004).
In order to control a particular disease, a
clear understanding of the biology and epi-
demiology of the causal agent is an important
starting point that allows for the identification
of all the realistic intervention points and the
design of control strategies that are in line with
the economic situation of the country. The
implementation of a control strategy should be
done in a way that allows progressive adjust-
ments. Epidemiological surveillance procedures
and tools should be used to monitor the prog-
ress of the control strategy and adjust it if neces-
sary ( Morris, 2015). According to Morris
(2015), the most problematic point in dealing
with the control of a disease is the fact that the
previously explained points are marginalized.
Disease control could be achieved in a more effi-
cient way by integrating suitable management
tools by the appropriate stakeholders (Cowie
et al., 2015). Bovine TB control should be moti-
vated by both the public health implications of
M. bovis and the economic losses triggered
(Amanfu, 2006). Transdisciplinary research
using participatory stakeholder involvement
could be used in order to contribute to the con-
trol of bovine TB from developing countries, like
Morocco, where there is very little or almost no
dialogue between the different stakeholders (vet-
erinarians, medical doctors, decision makers
and farmers).
The importance of an OH-integrated
approach including livestock, wildlife and public
health sectors was identified as a key element in
bovine TB control in Ethiopia (Tschopp and
Aseffa, 2016). In developing countries, the con-
trol of bovine TB must begin with many trans-
disciplinary workshops in order to set a dialogue
between the different stakeholders, as well as
create a trust environment between these
sectors. In this process, farmers and decision
makers will be informed by the scientists about
the economic losses caused by bovine TB and
about the different ways or actions that could be
undertaken in order to control this disease. The
needs of all the stakeholders involved in control-
ling bovine TB should be considered, as this
will ensure their engagement in the application
of control strategies and contribute to its
sustainability.
In developing countries, bovine TB control
strategy should be focused on many levels. Good
management of the resources that will be
involved in the campaign is required, in addition
to training the teams that will participate in the
intervention. In parallel, an awareness cam-
paign should be launched in order to make the
local population aware of the effectiveness of
the control strategy and its positive effect on the
long term. Sustainability of the control strategy
is essential for the success in controlling bovine
TB and its elimination in the long term. The inte-
gration of all the stakeholders in all the pro-
cesses from the formulation to the application of
the control strategy and including the monitor-
ing is crucial to ensure the achievement of the
interventions.ReferencesAbakar, F., Yahyaoui Azami, H., Justus Bless, P., Crump, L., Lohmann, P., et al. (2017) Transmission
dynamics and elimination potential of zoonotic tuberculosis in Morocco. PLOS Neglected Tropical
Diseases 11(2), e0005214.
Amanfu, W. (2006) The situation of tuberculosis and tuberculosis control in animals of economic interest.
Tuberculosis 86(3–4), 330–335.
Ayele, W.Y., Neill, S.D., Zinsstag, J., Weiss, M.G. and Pavlik, I. (2004) Bovine Tuberculosis: an old disease
but a new threat to Africa. The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease 8(8), 924–937.