Bovine tuberculosis control in Australia, New Zealand and Ireland: Wild animals and the epidemiology of tuberculosis in domestic animals

Abstract

Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis infection) in wild animal populations may act as a reservoir of infection for domestic livestock and interfere with disease control and eradication programs. It is instructive to examine successful national tuberculosis programs for domestic livestock where wildlife tuberculosis was involved to identify successful strategies. The tuberculosis control and/or eradication programs in three countries where wildlife are part of the epidemiology in domestic animals are examined. The programs examined are the successful national eradication program in Australia; the successful control of infection in domestic cattle and deer in New Zealand in spite of widespread wildlife infection; and the control campaign in Ireland where the level of infection in cattle has remained constant over several decades, where control in livestock is complicated by the nationwide distribution of infected badgers, and control in cattle and badgers are conducted in parallel.