Bovine Tuberculosis: A public health concern

Bovine tuberculosis is a chronic bacterial zoonotic infection caused by <em>Mycobacterium tuberculosis </em>complex, primarily by <em>Mycobacterium bovis. </em>It is listed in the WHAO Terrestrial Animal Health Code. The disease is contagious in nature and can be transmitted by direct contact with the infected animal or by indirect contact with the contaminated materials. Bovine milk is the main source of infection for man. The disease progress slowly and takes months/ years to become fatal. Infected animal sheds the organism before the appearance of the clinical signs. The disease takes a more severe form in children and immunocompromised patients. Though cattle are considered as the major host for bovine tuberculosis, the disease has been reported from other animals as well. The common clinical signs of the disease include weakness, loss of appetite, fever, dyspnoea and intermittent hacking cough, enlarged lymph node, diarrhoea, subcutaneous nodule etc. The disease can be diagnosed by tuberculin test, meat inspection, IFN- Gamma Release Assay, ELISA, Mycobacterial culture, histopathology and molecular diagnosis. Controlling bovine T.B is a tedious job and requires contribution from all stakeholders.