Bovine Tuberculosis Epidemiology and Control Strategies
Summary
Bovine tuberculosis (bTB), primarily caused by Mycobacterium bovis, remains a persistent challenge for livestock health, public safety and agricultural economies worldwide. Transmission occurs via direct contact between cattle, via contaminated environments and through wildlife reservoirs, notably badgers and deer in Europe and possums in Australasia. Control strategies have traditionally combined test-and-slaughter policies, movement restrictions and post-mortem surveillance. Advances in diagnostic technology, including interferon-gamma assays and multiplex antibody tests, have increased sensitivity and specificity, while molecular typing and genomic approaches have deepened understanding of transmission networks. Mathematical models now integrate herd-level parameters, wildlife ecology and trade movements, informing risk-based surveillance and regional eradication campaigns. Vaccination of wildlife, targeted culling and farmer engagement programmes complement statutory controls, but success varies according to ecological context, farming practices and resource allocation. Globally, coordinated efforts highlight the necessity of ecosystem-level management, real-time data sharing and adaptive policy frameworks to move towards sustainable bTB control and eventual eradication.
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Bovine Tuberculosis Epidemiology and Control Strategies publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in bovine tuberculosis epidemiology and control strategies across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Mycobacterium bovis: The bacterial species chiefly responsible for bovine tuberculosis, transmissible between cattle and wildlife.
Tuberculin skin test (SICTT): A diagnostic procedure where purified protein derivative is injected intradermally to assess cell-mediated immune response.
Interferon-gamma release assay (IFN-γ assay): A blood test measuring release of interferon-gamma by T-cells upon exposure to bTB antigens.
Wildlife reservoir: Non-bovine species that harbour M. bovis, sustaining transmission and complicating eradication efforts.
Test-and-slaughter: A control strategy involving periodic testing of animals and culling of positive reactors to reduce disease prevalence.
Bulk tank milk sampling: Collection of composite milk from dairy herds for antibody screening, enabling cost-effective surveillance at herd level.
References
- Diagnostic performance of the Enferplex Bovine TB antibody test using bulk tank milk samples from dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science (2025).
- Extensive differential DNA methylation between tuberculosis skin test positive and skin test negative cattle. BMC Genomics (2024).
- Can bovine TB be eradicated from the Republic of Ireland? Could this be achieved by 2030?. Irish Veterinary Journal (2019).
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