bTB Prevalence Research Articles

A retrospective study of zoonotic tuberculosis among livestock farmers of Lahore district using one health approach

Objectives: Tuberculosis (TB) affects humans and animals regardless of species type, causing huge economic losses and deaths worldwide. However, the mechanisms and risk factors of zoonotic transmission are not well known in Pakistan. The current study aimed to identify the potential risk factors associated with TB in farmers and their animals, particularly exposure to infected animals in Lahore District, Pakistan. Materials and Methods: The study consisted of two components utilizing the concept of One Health. In the first component, a retrospective case-control study of human subjects (cases = 25, control = 25) was conducted from December 2021 to July 2022. In the second component, a cross-sectional analysis of the cattle owned by selected participants (TB cases and healthy controls) was completed in the Lahore district. A single intradermal tuberculin skin test was used to determine TB infection in cattle. Results: A total of 25 TB cases and 25 healthy controls were enrolled. Males in cases were found (OR = 0.01, 95% CI: 0.0002–0.29, p = 0.014) less likely to get TB, cases older than 35 years (OR = 1.13 (95% CI: 1.05–1.24, p = 0.004), unmarried cases (OR = 32.20, 95% CI: 2.92–819.03, p = 0.014), being a smoker (OR = 21.87, 95% CI: 2.80–395.82, p = 0.011), and keeping animals inside the home (OR = 9.92, 95% CI: 1.29–134.61, p = 0.047) were identified as significant predictors of TB in humans in the final multivariable logistic regression. Out of 175 tested animals, 3/65 animals belonging to the cases and 1/110 animals belonging to the controls were found positive. The animals belonging to the TB cases were (OR = 7.76, 95% CI; 0.79–76.02) more likely to have a positive Single Comparative Intradermal Tuberculin Test. The prevalence of bTB in animals belonging to the cases was 4.6% (95% CI, 1.26–12.58) compared to 0.9% (95% CI, 0.04–4.67) in animals of the control group. Conclusion: This study identified potential risk factors that could contribute to the complex wave of TB transmission between humans and animals. Our findings could provide data to inform policy-making and intervention strategies to reduce TB’s burden in both populations. Embracing a holistic One Health perspective is imperative to effectively combat this shared health threat.

Bovine tuberculosis trends in Wales between 2010 and 2021.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is the most important animal health concern in Wales. Annual testing across all cattle herds in Wales commenced in 2010. In 2017, a new geographic division of Wales was conceived, with bespoke cattle controls and eradication milestones reflecting the geographical heterogeneity of bTB distribution. This observational study uses descriptive analysis and Poisson regression modelling to analyse bTB surveillance data from all herds in Wales. Since 2010, there has been a significant decrease (p < 0.0001) in bTB incidence (8.6%‒6.3%) and plateauing prevalence across Wales. Conversely, there has been an increase in bTB incidence and prevalence in discrete areas. Recurrence and persistence remain important drivers of bTB infection. One of the sharpest declines in bTB incidence was observed in an intensive action area where enhanced cattle control and wildlife vaccination were implemented in an area of high bTB prevalence. Increased herd size, dairy herd type and herd location are important risk factors affecting the rate of bTB incidents in Wales. This study includes data from Wales only. Improvements in trends of bTB occurred from 2010 to 2021, but the spatial variations described in this paper support the continued need for regionally adapted surveillance and control measures.

RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS AT GOMBE METROPOLITAN ABATTOIR, GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA

This retrospective study examines the prevalence of bTB at Gombe Metropolitan Abattoir, Nigeria, over a five-year period (2016-2020). Bovine tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium bovis, is a chronic infectious disease with zoonotic potential, necessitating comprehensive monitoring and control measures. The study analyzed data from postmortem examinations conducted on slaughtered cattle, focusing on the presence of typical tuberculosis lesions. Standard meat inspection procedures were employed, involving visual and palpation examinations of organs and lymph nodes. Statistical analysis using Microsoft Excel and SPSS revealed varying annual and monthly prevalence rates of bTB. Findings indicate an overall annual prevalence rate of 0.96%, with fluctuations observed across the study period. Monthly prevalence rates ranged from 0.41% to 1.19%, with no distinct seasonal pattern identified. However, a higher occurrence of bTB was noted during the wet season compared to the dry season. Despite the relatively low prevalence observed, bTB remains a concern due to its potential impact on public health and livestock welfare. Recommendations include enhancing surveillance systems, raising awareness among stakeholders, implementing biosecurity measures, and fostering collaborative research efforts. These measures are essential for effectively managing bTB and mitigating its spread within the livestock population and to humans.

Assessing the feasibility of test-and-cull and test-and-segregation approaches for the control of high-prevalence bovine tuberculosis in Ethiopian intensive dairy farms

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is endemic and has a substantial impact on the livestock sector in Ethiopia and other low and middle-income countries (LMICs). With a national emphasis on dairy farm intensification to boost milk production and spur economic growth, the incidence of bTB is anticipated to rise. However, Ethiopia, like other LMICs, lacks a comprehensive national bTB control strategy due to the economic and social infeasibility of traditional test-and-cull (TC) approaches. To inform the development of such a strategy, we evaluated the effectiveness and feasibility of TC and test-and-segregation (TSg) strategies for bTB control on Ethiopian dairy farms. A TC approach was used at Farm A [N = 62; comparative cervical test (CCT) > 4 mm, starting prevalence 11.3%] while TSg was implemented at Farm B (N = 45; CCT > 4 mm, prevalence 22.2%), with testing intervals of 2–4 months. Both strategies achieved a reduction in bTB prevalence to 0%, requiring seven rounds of TC over 18 months at Farm A, and five rounds of TSg over 12 months at Farm B’s negative herd. The results show that adopting more sensitive thresholds [CCT > 0 mm or single cervical test (SCT) > 2 mm] during later rounds was pivotal in identifying and managing previously undetected infections, emphasizing the critical need for optimized diagnostic thresholds. Cost analysis revealed that TC was approximately twice as expensive as TSg, primarily due to testing, labor, and cow losses in TC, versus construction of new facilities and additional labor for TSg. This underscores the economic and logistical challenges of bTB management in resource-limited settings. Taken together, our study highlights an urgent need for the exploration of alternative approaches including TSg and or vaccination to mitigate within herd transmission and enable implementation of bTB control in regions where TC is not feasible.

Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with bovine tuberculosis in cattle in Eastern Bhutan.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a chronic zoonotic disease affecting cattle of all age groups including wild animals. It poses a significant threat to public health and high economic losses to dairy farmers. While the disease has been eradicated from most of the developed countries through extensive surveillance, testing and culling strategy, it is endemic in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East countries. Currently, there is limited research regarding the prevalence of bTB in cattle in Bhutan. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of bTB in cattle in six districts of eastern Bhutan. A two-stage probability proportional to size (PPS) sampling strategy was used to determine the number of animals from which serum samples needed to be collected in each district and sub-district. All farms and cattle for sampling were randomly selected from the data in the annual livestock census of 2020. The samples were tested using bTB ELISA test kit. The seroprevalence and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Logistic regression models were constructed to assess the influence of various individual animal and environmental risk factors (breed, age, sex, source of animal, body condition scores of animals, respiratory system status) associated with sero-positivity in animals. The study revealed an apparent seroprevalence of 2.57% (25/971 cattle; 95% CI:1.58-3.57), with an estimated true seroprevalence of 0.91% (95% CI: 0.0-2.81). However, none of the variables were found to be significantly associated with bTB seroprevalence in cattle. We recommend, further sampling and employment of confirmatory testing to fully ascertain the extent of bTB in the cattle herds in eastern Bhutan for prevention and control.

Assessment of the diagnostic performance of intradermal tuberculin test and post-mortem inspection for the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis according to WOAH guidelines

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) constitutes a global challenge for public and animal health with still some deficiencies regarding its diagnosis. This study aimed to estimate the accuracy of the single intradermal tuberculin test (SIT) and post-mortem inspection for different diagnostic objectives following WOAH guidelines. Tissue samples from 59 microbiological culture/PCR-positive and 58 microbiological culture/PCR-negative cattle were evaluated. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, the positive and negative probability indices as well as the positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) of each technique were estimated for different pretest probabilities. The SIT with strict interpretation demonstrated moderate precision in confirming the absence of infection in populations historically free of bTB, with a 12.1% rate of false positives, but also detecting positive animals in the early stage of the eradication programs, with a 13.6% rate of false negatives. The diagnostic performance for ruling out bTB was notably high (NPV > 90%) in animals with a pre-test probability (PTP) below 42%. Post-mortem inspection constituted an interesting alternative tool to confirm suspected and positive cases for SIT, particularly in areas with bTB prevalence exceeding 19%, where implementing SIT and eradication measures may be impractical. In these areas, the likelihood that animals with tuberculosis-like lesions are affected by the disease surpasses 90%. Similarly, in herds with a PTP below 25%, the absence of bTB could be confidently ruled out with over 90% certainty. These findings highlight the effectiveness of SIT and post-mortem inspection as valuable techniques for current eradication programs and controlling bTB in high-prevalence areas where molecular techniques may not be feasible.

Prevalence and zoonotic risk factors of Mycobacterium bovis tuberculosis in cattle at the cattle-wildlife-human interface in South and East Cameroon.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a contagious and notifiable disease, which is prevalent in cattle populations of many countries and in several wildlife species worldwide. However, the role of wildlife in the transmission and/or maintenance of bTB at the human-wild animal-animal interface and the epidemiology of zoonotic disease are poorly understood in Cameroon, where many wildlife species exist. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and zoonotic risk factors of bTB at the cattle-wildlife-human interface in the South and East regions of Cameroon. We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study from May to October 2022 in the southern region (Vallée du Ntem and Dja et Lobo) and eastern region (Haut Nyong and Lom et Djérem) of Cameroon to determine risk factors for bTB in Zebu Bororo, Goudali, Ndama, and Simmental cattle breeds. A comparative intradermal tuberculin testing (CIDT) was performed on 160 cattle randomly selected from herds using the threshold recommended by the World Organization for Animal Health. An interviewee-administered questionnaire was used to gather epidemiological data on sociodemographics, interaction between cattle and wildlife, and awareness of zoonotic tuberculosis (TB) from 90 cattle professionals. The prevalence of bTB at the herd level and associated risk factors were estimated using multiple logistic regression models. Based on the comparative intradermal tuberculin test (CIDT), the estimated prevalence of bTB in 160 cattle (Zebu Bororo, Goudali, Ndama, and Simmental) in South and East Cameroon was 6.8% (4.35%-9.41%) and 1.8% (0%-3.6%) for threshold values 3 mm and 4 mm, respectively. The prevalence obtained by simple intradermal tuberculin test (IDT) was 0.6% (0%-1.2%) for a threshold value 4 mm. Univariate analysis revealed three risk factors associated with bTB with significant odds ratios (OR; p = 0.05): herd size (OR = 4.88; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24-32.56); cattle aged>10 years (OR = 0.17; 95% CI: 0.05-0.53); and victims of bTB organ seizure (OR = 0.015; 95% CI: 0.002-0.067). Multivariate analysis showed that being a cattle herder and contact between wildlife and livestock due to forage was significantly associated with bTB exposure (adjusted OR = 0.02; p = 0.001). Bovine TB is prevalent in cattle of the South and East Cameroon. Comparative IDT of cattle reared in the epidemiological and environmental context of the study areas yielded better results at a threshold of 3 mm than at a threshold of 4 mm recommended by the World Health Organization. Factors associated with exposure to/appearance of bTB were high herd size, cattle aged >10 years old, seizures of tuberculous organs, shepherding as a profession, and contact between cattle and wildlife can be due to lack of forage.

Very low prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle in Sylhet district of Bangladesh

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB), a chronic zoonotic disease in cattle, has a substantial socio-economic and public health impact. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence and geographical distribution of bTB in the Sylhet district of Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was conducted at all 12 upazilas of Sylhet district, which included 512 randomly selected cattle from 48 farms. Selected animals were tested with the Caudal Fold Tuberculin (CFT) test to identify bTB-positive cattle. Out of 512 cattle, only one animal was identified as a reactor, providing an estimated prevalence of 0.19% (95% Confidence Interval; 0–0.58%). The only positive reactor was found in Zakiganj upazila. As the prevalence of bTB in cattle in Sylhet appears to be low, it indicates that most of the upazilas of Sylhet district are free of the bTB infection. This prevalence is lower than the reported prevalence in other parts of Bangladesh. Thus, attempts should be made to maintain the current situation of bTB infection in cattle of Sylhet district.

Divergent proinflammatory immune responses associated with the differential susceptibility of cattle breeds to tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis (TB) in the bovine is one of the most predominant chronic debilitating infectious diseases primarily caused by Mycobacterium bovis. Besides, the incidence of TB in humans due to M. bovis, and that in bovines (bovine TB, bTB) due to M. tuberculosis- indicates cattle as a major reservoir of zoonotic TB. While India accounts for the highest global burden of both TB and multidrug-resistant TB in humans, systematic evaluation of bTB prevalence in India is largely lacking. Recent reports emphasized markedly greater bTB prevalence in exotic and crossbred cattle compared to indigenous cattle breeds that represent more than one-third of the total cattle population in India, which is the largest globally. This study aimed at elucidating the immune responses underlying the differential bTB incidence in prominent indigenous (Sahiwal), and crossbred (Sahiwal x Holstein Friesian) cattle reared in India. Employing the standard Single Intradermal Tuberculin Test (SITT), and mycobacterial gene-targeting single as well as multiplex-PCR-based screening revealed higher incidences of bovine tuberculin reactors as well as Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex specific PCR positivity amongst the crossbred cattle. Further, ex vivo mycobacterial infection in cultures of bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from SITT, and myco-PCR negative healthy cattle exhibited significantly higher intracellular growth of M. bovis BCG, and M. tuberculosis H37Ra in the crossbred cattle PBMCs compared to native cattle. In addition, native cattle PBMCs induced higher pro-inflammatory cytokines and signaling pathways, such as interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-17 (IL-17), tank binding kinase-1 (TBK-1), and nitric oxide (NO) upon exposure to live mycobacterial infection in comparison to PBMCs from crossbred cattle that exhibited higher expression of IL-1β transcripts. Together, these findings highlight that differences in the innate immune responses of these cattle breeds might be contributing to the differential susceptibility to bTB infection, and the resultant disparity in bTB incidence amongst indigenous, and crossbred cattle.

Prevalence of bovine tuberculosis and analysis of risk factors among the dairy farms in and around Guwahati metropolitan city, India

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB), a neglected zoonotic disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis is being reported worldwide. The present work was carried out from December 2020 to November 2021 to assess the prevalence and risk factors of bTB in peri-urban and urban dairy farms of Guwahati, Assam, India. A questionnaire was used to collect data on knowledge about bTB on 36 farms, and ten animals per farm were screened by single intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin test (SICCT) to determine the prevalence of bTB, giving a total of 360 animals. The demographic data of the farmers revealed that 61.1% respondents were illiterate, 66.7% had no awareness about bovine tuberculosis and 41.7% consumed unpasteurised milk and milk products. SICCT showed that 38 cattle from 18 of the farms were positive reactors for bTB, yielding an overall animal level prevalence of 10.55% (95% confidence interval (CI = 7.58–14.2%) and a 50% herd prevalence (95% CI 32.9–67.1%). Animals 5 years and above were found to be more likely to be positive for bTB (17.18%). The study highlighted the widespread prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in peri-urban and urban dairy farms of Guwahati which gives a picture also about other major cities of India. Hence, it is of utmost importance to undertake a comprehensive epidemiological study in such cities for effective control and prevention of bTB in a one health approach.

Prevalence, distribution, and risk factors of bovine tuberculosis in dairy cattle in central China.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is one of the priority epidemic diseases in dairy cattle in China. Continuous surveillance and evaluation of the control programs will help on improving the efficiency of bTB control policy. We designed this study to investigate both animal and herd level prevalence of bTB, as well as to determine the associated factors in dairy farms in Henan and Hubei provinces. A cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2019 to September 2020 in central China (Henan and Hubei provinces). We sampled 40 herds in Henan and six herds in Hubei via stratified systematic sampling and administrated a questionnaire consisting of 35 factors. A total of 4900 whole blood samples were collected from 46 farms, including 545 calves <six months old and 4355 cows ≥six months old. This study demonstrated a high animal-(18.65%, 95% CI: 17.6-19.8) and herd-level (93.48%, 95%CI: 82.1-98.6) prevalence of bTB in dairy farms in central China. The Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) and negative binomial regression models showed that herd positivity was associated with the practice of introducing new animals (RR = 1.7, 95%CI: 1.0-3.0, p=0.042), and changing the disinfectant water in the wheel bath at the farm entrance every three days or less (RR = 0.4, 95%CI: 0.2-0.8, p=0.005) which reduced the odds of herd positivity. In addition, the result illustrated that testing cows with a higher age group (≥ 60 months old) (OR=1.57, 95%CI: 1.14-2.17, p=0.006) and within the early stage of lactation (DIM=60-120 days, OR=1.85, 95%CI: 1.19-2.88, p=0.006) and the later stage of lactation (DIM≥301 days, OR=2.14, 95%CI: 1.30-3.52, p=0.003) could maximize the odds of detecting seropositive animals. Our results have plenty of benefit to improve bTB surveillance strategies in China and elsewhere in the world. The LASSO and the negative binomial regression models were recommended when dealing with high herd-level prevalence and high dimensional data in questionnaire-based risk studies.

Evaluation and application of a milk antibody ELISA for assessing the prevalence and incidence of bovine tuberculosis in dairy herds in Hubei Province, China

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a chronic zoonotic disease that is endemic in China. Current in-vitro tests for bTB are mainly based on blood assays. Collection of samples results in some stress to the sampled cattle and associated economic losses for the herd owner. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between milk and serum antibody tests for bTB in dairy cows using 85 cows with milk and corresponding blood samples. Totally 4,395 milk samples were used to assesse the apparent (test) prevalence and incidence of bTB using the milk antibody ELISA. The association between levels of bTB milk antibody and milk quality was also evaluated. Milk and serum antibody tests showed a good correlation with a 87.5% (95% CI: 61.7%, 98.4) positive agreement and 98.7% (95% CI: 95.4, 99.8) negative agreement. The animal level lactoprevalence ranged from 0.3% (95% CI: 0, 1.2) to 33.3% (95% CI: 26.6, 40.6) in different farms and the incidence rate ranged from 0 head/cow-month (95% CI: 0, 0.02) to 0.04 head/cow-month (95% CI: 0.02, 0.07). Twenty percent of sampled farms met the criteria for bTB control in China. The prevalence on large-scale farms was lower (p < 0.001) than on small farms. The bTB milk antibody levels had a negative correlation with milk yield and a positive correlation with somatic cell count (SCC), milk protein percentage (MPP) and percentage of total solids (TS). According to this research, milk ELISA could be used as a supplement of blood samples to assist in the surveillance for bTB and for alerting control and eradication of bTB.

Prevalence and risk factors of bovine tuberculosis in slaughtered cattle, Malawi

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an infectious disease with significant socioeconomic, animal, and public health impacts. However, the prevalence of bTB remains largely unclear in Malawi due to a paucity of information. Additionally, the existence of multiple risk factors is postulated to enhance bTB transmission in animals. A cross-sectional survey to estimate the prevalence of bTB, animal characteristics and identify associated risk factors was conducted from slaughtered cattle at three major regional abattoirs (southern, central and northern regions) in Malawi. Out of a total of 1547 cattle examined, 154 (9.95%) had bTB-like lesions in various visceral organs and lymph nodes; one sample per animal was collected, processed, and cultured in the in the BACTEC Mycobacterial growth indicator tube (MGIT) 960 system. From the 154 cattle that showed tuberculous like lesions, only 112 were positive on MGIT and 87 were confirmed to have M. bovis based on multiplex PCR. Cattle from the southern region (odds ratio (OR) = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.03–3.85) and central region (OR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.16–3.56) were more likely presented with bTB-like lesions at slaughter than from the northern region. The risk of having bTB-like lesions was higher in females (OR = 1.51, CI: 1.00–2.29), older cattle (OR = 2.17, CI: 1.34–3.37), and crossbreeds (OR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.12–2.47) than in males, younger animals, and Malawi Zebu breed, respectively. The high prevalence of bTB is of critical concern and necessitates active surveillance and strengthening of the current control strategies under a One Health (OH) approach at the animal-human interface.

Prevalence and molecular characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in cattle and humans, Maiduguri, Borno state, Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

IntroductionGlobally, the highest burden of bovine and human tuberculosis resides in Africa and Asia. Tuberculosis (TB) is the second leading single infectious killer after severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus-2 (SARSCOV-2). Bovine TB remains a treat to wild and domesticated animals, humans and hinders international trade in endemic countries like Nigeria. We aimed at determining the prevalence of bovine and human tuberculosis, and the spoligotypes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in cattle and humans in Maiduguri.MethodsWe conducted a cross sectional study on bovine and human tuberculosis in Maiduguri, Borno state. We calculated sample size using the method of Thrusfield. Lesions suggestive of TB from 160 slaughtered cattle were obtained from Maiduguri Central Abattoir. Sputum samples from humans; 82 abattoir workers and 147 suspected TB patients from hospitals/clinics were obtained. Lesions and sputum samples were cultured for the isolation of Mycobacterium spp. Positive cultures were subjected genus typing, deletion analysis and selected isolates were spoligotyped. Data was analysed using SPSS VERSION 16.0.ResultsPrevalence of 32.5% (52/160) was obtained in cattle. Damboa local government area (LGA), where majority of the infected animals were obtained from had 35.5% bTB prevalence. All categories analysed (breed, age, sex, body conformation and score) had P-values that were not significant (P > 0.05). Sputum culture revealed a prevalence of 3.7% (3/82) from abattoir workers and 12.2% from hospitals/clinics. A significant P-value (0.03) was obtained when positive culture from abattoir and that of hospitals/clinics were compared. Out of the 52 culture positive isolates obtained from cattle, 26 (50%) belonged to M. tuberculosis complex (MTC) and 17/26 (65.4%) were characterized as M. bovis. In humans, 7/12 (58.3%) MTC obtained were characterized as M. tuberculosis. Spoligotyping revealed SB0944 and SB1025 in cattle, while SIT838, SIT61 of LAM10_CAM and SIT1054, SIT46 of Haarlem (H) families were obtained from humans.ConclusionsCattle in Damboa LGA need to be screened for bTB as majority of the infected animals were brought from there. Our findings revealed the presence of SB0944 and SB1025 spoligotypes from cattle in Borno state. We isolated M. tuberculosis strain of the H family mainly domiciled in Europe from humans.

Vaccination Strategies in a Potential Use of the Vaccine against Bovine Tuberculosis in Infected Herds.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a disease of cattle that represents a risk to public health and causes severe economic losses to the livestock industry. Recently, one of the strategies recommended for reducing the prevalence of the disease in animals is the use of the BCG vaccine, alone or in combination with proteins. It has been shown that the vaccine elicits a strong immune response, downsizes the number of animals with visible lesions, and reduces the rate of infection as well as the bacillary count. This paper, based on scientific evidence, makes suggestions about some practical vaccination alternatives that can be used in infected herds to reduce bTB prevalence, considering BCG strains, vaccine doses, routes of application, and age of the animals. Our conclusion is that vaccination is a promising alternative to be included in current control programs in underdeveloped countries to reduce the disease burden.

Apparent prevalence and risk factors for bovine tuberculosis in the state of Paraná, Brazil: an assessment after 18 years since the beginning of the Brazilian program

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) impacts considerably animal production and one health worldwide. To describe the prevalence, risk factors, and spatial pattern of the disease in the state of Paraná, Brazil, a cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2018 to February 2019. The area was divided into seven regions. Within each region, farms were randomly selected, and a predetermined number of cows was selected and tested by a comparative cervical tuberculin test. 17,210 animals were tested across 1757 farms. Herd prevalence of bTB-infected herds in Paraná was 2.5% [1.87–3.00%]. It has varied from 0.8 to 3.98% among seven regions, with clustering being detected in the west, central, and northeast areas. Animal prevalence was 0.35% [0.21–0.59%] and has varied from 0.08 to 0.6% among the pre-set regions. No major shifts in the prevalence of bTB were detected since 2007. Large-sized herds, dairy production, and feeding with whey were detected to be correlated with the presence of bTB. Exclusively among dairy herds, veterinary assistance from cooperatives, possession of self-owned equipment to cool milk, and feeding with whey were correlated with the disease. Considering these results, it is recommended that the state of Paraná seek to implement a surveillance system for the detection of bTB-infected herds transforming them into free ones, if possible, incorporating elements of risk-based surveillance. Health education is also recommended to inform farmers about the risks of introducing animals without testing and of feeding raw whey to calves.

Bovine tuberculosis control in Fiji: Retrospective study findings for 2015 to 2020.

Control of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a priority for animal health, biosecurity, and human health authorities in Fiji as evident from the long-term funding of the Bovine Brucellosis and Tuberculosis Eradication and Control program (BTEC) and notable improvements to the program described in this paper. To evaluate the performance of the Fiji BTEC program from 2015 to 2020, all available bTB data for cattle were analyzed. Data sources included BTEC bTB testing records, abattoir records and laboratory records. We integrated all information to quantify the bTB tests applied, bTB positive farms and animals, meat inspection and laboratory findings. Test coverage was highest among dairy cattle in Central Division (~73%), where bTB was highly prevalent with 7.8% of dairy cattle and 61.7% of dairy farms found to be positive between 2015 and 2020. There was no visible downward trend in the apparent prevalence of bTB over the 6-year period. During 2019 and 2020, only 21.3% (51/239) of the tested dairy farms maintained their clear status, another 8.4% (20/239) reverted to infected status after 1 year or more of being bTB clear, and most farms remained infected during these 2 years. Factors observed to be contributing to this situation were persistent infections, related in part to the significant number of untested animals, uncontrolled animal movements, and larger farm size. Similar to other developing countries, bTB remains a serious concern and further strengthening of the program targeting the main contributors to bTB persistence, along with maintenance of a comprehensive reporting and traceability system, industry awareness and government support are needed. Control of bTB in Fiji is a long-term objective that must have multiple stakeholder engagement and regular review to measure success.

Public Awareness, Prevalence and Potential Determinants of Bovine Tuberculosis in Selected Districts of Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia

PurposeBovine tuberculosis (bTB) is infectious chronic disease of animals mainly caused by bacillus Mycobacterium bovis. It is known endemic disease of cattle in Ethiopia. In the current study sites, there is little information on bovine tuberculosis. Thus, this study was aimed to assess public awareness; and estimate prevalence and potential a risk factors of bovine tuberculosis.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted, November 2018 to May 2019, on dairy cattle randomly selected from smallholder farms of Arba Minch Zuria and Chencha districts. Comparative intradermal tuberculin test (CIDT) was used in the diagnosis of bTB in dairy animals. CIDT was administered to 221 dairy cattle. Questionnaire survey was performed on 110 smallholders to assess risk factors accountable for the event of bTB in human population.Results8.2% animal level prevalence of bTB was documented in the study sites. Dairy cattle with age of 4 to 8 eight years were 34% more likely to be affected by bTB less than 4 years age cattle (OR=1.34). However, factors like housing, body condition, herd size and parity were not significantly related with the event of bTB. The assessment of bTB awareness was shown 29.7% participants knew that cattle could be infected, and 13.4% of the respondents believed that it can spread from animal to human and vice versa. Besides, 66.1% of participants had habit for consumption of raw milk and soured milk products. Moreover, respondent’s attitude about zoonoses and consequences of bTB was risky.ConclusionPresent study discloses that bTB is animal health problem affecting dairy cattle in Gamo zone, Southern Ethiopia. Based on the current findings, public awareness creation, bovine tuberculosis test and segregation strategy should be applied to minimize the public health hazards and risk factors for bovine origin tuberculosis.

Bovine Tuberculosis Epidemiology in Cameroon, Central Africa, Based on the Interferon-Gamma Assay.

Despite sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) accounting for ~20% of the global cattle population, prevalence estimates and related risk factors of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) are still poorly described. The increased sensitivity of the IFN-γ assay and its practical benefits suggest the test could be useful to investigate bTB epidemiology in SSA. This study used a population-based sample to estimate bTB prevalence, identify risk factors and estimate the effective reproductive rate in Cameroonian cattle populations. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the North West Region (NWR) and the Vina Division (VIN) of Cameroon in 2013. A regional stratified sampling frame of pastoral cattle herds produced a sample of 1,448 cattle from 100 herds. In addition, a smaller cross-sectional study sampled 60 dairy cattle from 46 small-holder co-operative dairy farmers in the NWR. Collected blood samples were stimulated with bovine and avian purified protein derivatives, with extracted plasma screened using the IFN-γ enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Prionics Bovigam®). Design-adjusted population prevalences were estimated, and multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression models using Bayesian inference techniques identified the risk factors for IFN-γ positivity. Using the IFN-γ assay, the prevalence of bTB in the dairy cattle was 21.7% (95% CI: 11.2–32.2). The design-adjusted prevalence of bTB in cattle kept by pastoralists was 11.4% (95% CI: 7.6–17.0) in the NWR and 8.0% (95% CI: 4.7–13.0) in the VIN. A within-herd prevalence estimate for pastoralist cattle also supported that the NWR had higher prevalence herds than the VIN. Additionally, the estimates of the effective reproductive rate Rt were 1.12 for the NWR and 1.06 for the VIN, suggesting different transmission rates within regional cattle populations in Cameroon. For pastoral cattle, an increased risk of IFN-γ assay positivity was associated with being male (OR = 1.89; 95% CI:1.15–3.09), increasing herd size (OR = 1.02; 95% CI:1.01–1.03), exposure to the bovine leucosis virus (OR = 2.45; 95% CI: 1.19–4.84) and paratuberculosis (OR = 9.01; 95% CI: 4.17–20.08). Decreased odds were associated with contacts at grazing, buffalo (OR = 0.20; 95% CI: 0.03–0.97) and increased contact with other herds [1–5 herds: OR = 0.16 (95% CI: 0.04–0.55); 6+ herds: OR = 0.18 (95% CI: 0.05–0.64)]. Few studies have used the IFN-γ assay to describe bTB epidemiology in SSA. This study highlights the endemic situation of bTB in Cameroon and potential public health risks from dairy herds. Further work is needed to understand the IFN-γ assay performance, particularly in the presence of co-infections, and how this information can be used to develop control strategies in the SSA contexts.

Bovine Tuberculosis Antemortem Diagnostic Test Agreement and Disagreement in a Naturally Infected African Cattle Population.

The interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) assay and single comparative cervical skin test (SCITT) are used to estimate bovine tuberculosis (bTB) prevalence globally. Prevalence estimates of bTB, caused by Mycobacterium bovis, are poorly quantified in many Sub-Saharan African (SSA) cattle populations. Furthermore, antemortem diagnostic performance can vary at different stages of bTB pathogenesis and in different cattle populations. In this study, we aim to explore the level of agreement and disagreement between the IFN-γ assay and SCITT test, along with the drivers for disagreement, in a naturally infected African cattle population. In, 2013, a pastoral cattle population was sampled using a stratified clustered cross-sectional study in Cameroon. A total of 100 pastoral cattle herds in the North West Region (NWR) and the Vina Division (VIN) were sampled totalling 1,448 cattle. Individual animal data and herd-level data were collected, and animals were screened using both the IFN-γ assay and SCITT. Serological ELISAs were used to detect exposure to immunosuppressing co-infections. Agreement analyses were used to compare the performance between the two bTB diagnostic tests, and multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression models (MLR) were developed to investigate the two forms of IFN-γ assay and SCITT binary disagreement. Best agreement using the Cohen's κ statistic, between the SCITT (>2 mm) and the IFN-γ assay implied a ‘fair-moderate' agreement for the NWR [κ = 0.42 (95%CI: 0.31–0.53)] and ‘poor-moderate' for the VIN [κ = 0.33 (95% CI: 0.18–0.47)]. The main test disagreement was the animals testing positive on the IFN-γ assay and negative by the SCITT. From MLR modeling, adults (adults OR: 7.57; older adults OR = 7.21), females (OR = 0.50), bovine leucosis (OR = 2.30), and paratuberculosis positivity (OR = 6.54) were associated with IFN-γ-positive/SCITT-negative disagreement. Subsets to investigate diagnostic test disagreement for being SCITT-positive and IFN-γ-negative also identified that adults (adults OR = 15.74; older adults OR = 9.18) were associated with IFN-γ-negative/SCITT-positive disagreement. We demonstrate that individual or combined use of the IFN-γ assay and SCITT can lead to a large variation in bTB prevalence estimates. Considering that animal level factors were associated with disagreement between the IFN-γ assay and SCITT in this study, future work should further investigate their impact on diagnostic test performance to develop the approaches to improve SSA prevalence estimates.