Bovine Tuberculosis: Clinical Presentation and Diagnosis

Bovine tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic disease of animals caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis), which is closely related to the human bacterium and avian tuberculosis. Although cattle are considered true hosts of M. bovis, the disease has been reported in many domestic animals and undomesticated. Tuberculosis is usually a chronic debilitating disease in cattle, but it can occasionally be acute and rapidly progressive. TB is still common in less developed countries, and severe economic losses can occur from livestock deaths, chronic disease and trade restrictions. In some situations, this disease may also be a serious threat to endangered species. Bovine tuberculosis can be controlled by test-and- slaughter or test-and-segregation methods. Affected herds are re-tested periodically to eliminate cattle that may shed the organism; the tuberculin test is generally used.