Abstract

Background

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB, caused by infection with Mycobacterium bovis) is endemic in the Irish cattle population, and the subject of a national eradication programme since the late 1950s. During 2014, a substantial area-level bTB outbreak developing in north County Sligo, necessitating the need for an enhanced response. This paper describes this outbreak, the response that was undertaken and some lessons learned.

Results

In the north Sligo area between 2014 and 2016, 23 (31.9%) of restricted herds had 4 or more reactors to the single intradermal comparative tuberculin test (SICTT)/animals with bTB lesions disclosed during the restriction, and the majority (55.5%) of test-positive animals were identified as standard reactors to the SICTT. The herds restricted during 2014–16 were typically larger than other herds in the study area and introduced more animals during 2013. M. bovis was also detected in local badgers, but not deer.

Conclusion

This paper describes a substantial outbreak in north County Sligo over a 3-year period. A coordinated area-based approach was a key feature of the outbreak, and substantial resources were applied to bring the outbreak under control. No definitive source was identified, nor reasons why a substantial number of herds were infected over a relatively short period. A coordinated regional approach was taken, and a number of lessons were learned including the need for urgency, for a team-based approach, for a consistent message when dealing with the public, for an area-based approach, for a degree of flexibility for the breakdown manager, and for molecular tools to assist in answering key questions relating to the source and spread of M. bovis to many herds during this bTB outbreak.

Details

Title
The bovine tuberculosis cluster in north County Sligo during 2014–16
Author
Doyle, Rob; Clegg, Tracy A; McGrath, Guy; Tratalos, Jamie; Barrett, Damien; Lee, Ada; More, Simon J
Publication year
2018
Publication date
2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
e-ISSN
20460481
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2158201831
Copyright
Copyright © 2018. This work is licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.