Abstract
The aim of our study was to determine the association of selected potential risk factors with the presence of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) in dairy herds in Eritrea. A case-control study was conducted in the three major milk-producing regions of the country by stratified random sampling of 61 case and 65 control herds combined with completion of a standardized pretested questionnaire pertaining 36 relevant risk factors (variables). The variables were divided into two clusters, based on potential association with either "introduction" or "establishment" of BTB on the farms to elucidate association with incident or prevalent cases separately. Subsequent to univariable analysis of the 36 risk factors at herd level, 14 of these were offered to multivariable logistic regression models. Farms with higher numbers of cows, and those with concrete floors, were 3.6, and 7.5 times more at risk for presence of BTB, respectively, compared with their references. These findings will be useful as entry points for future informed decision-making towards BTB control and eradication programme in the country.
Highlights
Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) caused by Mycobacterium bovis (OIE, 2009) is a debilitating, infectious and contagious disease that affects many animal species and occasionally humans
The variables were divided into two clusters, based on potential association with either “introduction” or “establishment” of BTB
Farms owned by full-time dairy farmers were more at risk (OR = 3.3) as compared with those owned by part-time dairy farmers
Summary
Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) caused by Mycobacterium bovis (OIE, 2009) is a debilitating, infectious and contagious disease that affects many animal species and occasionally humans. The “intensive husbandry system” has shown to be a predisposing factor to BTB in animals (Griffin et al, 1993). Apart from animal-to-animal transmission as a cause of infection, humans with open tuberculosis due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis or M. bovis may be sources of infection to animals (Radostits, Gay, Hinchcliff, & Constable, 2007). Ghebremariam et al (2016) reported 17.3% herd prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in the dairy cattle in the country. The goal of the current study was to investigate the association of potential farm-level risk factors with this herd prevalence
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