Tuberculosis in cattle: strategic planning for the future

In the later stages of eradication of tuberculosis in cattle there is a need to take account of the fact that Mycobacterium bovis infection in cattle presents, not as cases of clinical disease but most commonly as apparently healthy animals showing an immunological response to tuberculin. This is an entirely different scenario to that seen when national eradication programmes were first devised, at a time when the protection of public health rather than animal health was the prime motivation. In countries with active programmes to eradicate bovine tuberculosis, it is critical for the programme's success that account is taken of this redefinition of tuberculosis, side by side with changes in modern animal production systems and their impact on the transmission of M. bovis. This paper highlights factors critical to the success of a national eradication programme, including a clear identification of the goals, of the policies that guide actions, and of the sequences of actions that are required within the programme to accomplish these goals. Experience has illustrated the adverse effects of compromise on outcome when the application of fundamental principles of disease control such as sound animal management, removal of known sources of infection, early diagnosis, quarantine, movement control and environmental hygiene are less than enthusiastically promoted and applied. The reality is that where these principles are applied in a sustained manner, the outcome is more likely to be successful. Therein lies the challenge for the risk manager.