Abstract
Infectious animal diseases, such as Johne’s disease (JD) caused by Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP) and bovine tuberculosis (bTB) caused by Mycobacterium bovis, have been a challenge to the livestock industry globally, impacting negatively on animal, human and environmental health, and overall food security. Despite several industry-led and government initiatives and programs aimed at preventing and reducing losses associated with JD and bTB outbreaks, JD has remained endemic in many parts of the world while there have been incidental outbreaks of bTB. While several studies focus on sustainable intensification of food (crop) production as a critical solution to food insecurity, following the existential interconnection between animals, humans and the environment recognized by one health, we frame food security through the lens of animal disease prevention and control, given the importance of livestock products to human health and livelihood. Vaccination has been a popular strategy successfully used in controlling other infectious diseases. The paper focuses on an alternate strategy of two subunit vaccines with companion diagnostics targeted at individual pathogens to attain satisfactory immunological responses for JD and bTB. We examine gaps in vaccine policies, commercialization, and potential strategies that would strengthen animal disease prevention and enhance food security. The potential of public–private partnership in strengthening private sector participation in effective animal disease control and health delivery and the implications for global food security are discussed.
Highlights
Animal products serve as an important food resource and account for about one-third of human protein consumption globally [1,2]
We are focused on two endemic diseases—bovine tuberculosis and Johne’s disease (JD)—that have become a challenge to policy makers and the livestock industry around the world
The ’One Health’ framework is a recent international movement that utilizes a multi-sectoral synergistic approach in promoting human health by reducing risks associated with the “animal-human-ecosystem interface”
Summary
Animal products serve as an important food resource and account for about one-third of human protein consumption globally [1,2]. Vaccination, which has been described as one of the most cost-effective methods of reducing the risk of other livestock diseases and associated economic losses, is widely available for bTB or JD. Herders and their animals move within and across national borders without any restriction while the animals in most cases share grazing areas and water with indigenous stock, thereby increasing the host spectrum and disease prevalence In some countries, such as Canada, existing control measures for bTB include ‘trace-in herds’. Incorporating new vaccines in addition to or as a replacement for existing policies (e.g., herd depopulation, premature slaughter, and culling) would arguably be an economically superior method for bTB and JD surveillance and control, as it would reduce private and social costs associated with them.
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