A case study of bovine tuberculosis in an area of County Donegal, Ireland

<p>Abstract</p> <p>A descriptive analysis, to investigate the potential risk factors that might have contributed to the increased incidence of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) herd-breakdowns in the reference area of Co. Donegal during the fifth year of the four-area project (FAP), was pe...

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Main Authors: Olea-Popelka Francisco, Butler Dermot, Lavin Des, McGrath Guy, O'Keeffe James, Kelton David, Berke Olaf, More Simon, Martin Wayne
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2006-12-01
Series:Irish Veterinary Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.irishvetjournal.org/content/59/12/683
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spelling doaj-4b85c6fc36d146b29bac1ba98c6b5a5c2020-11-25T00:23:56ZengBMCIrish Veterinary Journal2046-04812006-12-01591268369010.1186/2046-0481-59-12-683A case study of bovine tuberculosis in an area of County Donegal, IrelandOlea-Popelka FranciscoButler DermotLavin DesMcGrath GuyO'Keeffe JamesKelton DavidBerke OlafMore SimonMartin Wayne<p>Abstract</p> <p>A descriptive analysis, to investigate the potential risk factors that might have contributed to the increased incidence of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) herd-breakdowns in the reference area of Co. Donegal during the fifth year of the four-area project (FAP), was performed. Seventy two different herds were restricted for BTB during the FAP; 10 of these herds were restricted twice, resulting in a total of 82 BTB breakdowns. During the first four years of the FAP, the number of BTB herd breakdowns in the area varied from a lowest of nine to a maximum of 18 per year, and were geographically dispersed. In the fifth year of the study a considerable increase in the number of BTB breakdowns (n = 32) was observed, and there was a spatial 'cluster' of infected herds in the eastern part of the study area. The increased number of BTB breakdowns during the fifth year most likely occurred because of the recrudescence of infection, herd-to-herd transmission and, to a lesser extent, purchase of infected cattle. Infected badgers remain as a possible but less likely source of infection, especially as an explanation for the cluster of infected herds. The analysis supports the hypothesis that BTB in herds is a problem that cannot be addressed successfully by dedicating our efforts to the elimination of single risk factors. Neither is it a problem that needs to be investigated only at the herd level, but rather at the area level, including groups of contiguous herds.</p> http://www.irishvetjournal.org/content/59/12/683Bovinetuberculosis<it>Mycobacterium bovis</it>
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Olea-Popelka Francisco
Butler Dermot
Lavin Des
McGrath Guy
O'Keeffe James
Kelton David
Berke Olaf
More Simon
Martin Wayne
spellingShingle Olea-Popelka Francisco
Butler Dermot
Lavin Des
McGrath Guy
O'Keeffe James
Kelton David
Berke Olaf
More Simon
Martin Wayne
A case study of bovine tuberculosis in an area of County Donegal, Ireland
Irish Veterinary Journal
Bovine
tuberculosis
<it>Mycobacterium bovis</it>
author_facet Olea-Popelka Francisco
Butler Dermot
Lavin Des
McGrath Guy
O'Keeffe James
Kelton David
Berke Olaf
More Simon
Martin Wayne
author_sort Olea-Popelka Francisco
title A case study of bovine tuberculosis in an area of County Donegal, Ireland
title_short A case study of bovine tuberculosis in an area of County Donegal, Ireland
title_full A case study of bovine tuberculosis in an area of County Donegal, Ireland
title_fullStr A case study of bovine tuberculosis in an area of County Donegal, Ireland
title_full_unstemmed A case study of bovine tuberculosis in an area of County Donegal, Ireland
title_sort case study of bovine tuberculosis in an area of county donegal, ireland
publisher BMC
series Irish Veterinary Journal
issn 2046-0481
publishDate 2006-12-01
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>A descriptive analysis, to investigate the potential risk factors that might have contributed to the increased incidence of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) herd-breakdowns in the reference area of Co. Donegal during the fifth year of the four-area project (FAP), was performed. Seventy two different herds were restricted for BTB during the FAP; 10 of these herds were restricted twice, resulting in a total of 82 BTB breakdowns. During the first four years of the FAP, the number of BTB herd breakdowns in the area varied from a lowest of nine to a maximum of 18 per year, and were geographically dispersed. In the fifth year of the study a considerable increase in the number of BTB breakdowns (n = 32) was observed, and there was a spatial 'cluster' of infected herds in the eastern part of the study area. The increased number of BTB breakdowns during the fifth year most likely occurred because of the recrudescence of infection, herd-to-herd transmission and, to a lesser extent, purchase of infected cattle. Infected badgers remain as a possible but less likely source of infection, especially as an explanation for the cluster of infected herds. The analysis supports the hypothesis that BTB in herds is a problem that cannot be addressed successfully by dedicating our efforts to the elimination of single risk factors. Neither is it a problem that needs to be investigated only at the herd level, but rather at the area level, including groups of contiguous herds.</p>
topic Bovine
tuberculosis
<it>Mycobacterium bovis</it>
url http://www.irishvetjournal.org/content/59/12/683
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