Bovine Tuberculosis Flashcards
What is the pathogen of bovine tuberculosis?
M. bovis
Is M. bovis zoonotic?
Yes, it is easily transmitted
What are environmental reservoirs of M. bovis?
- mud/dirt
- feces
- water troughs
- milking equipment
What can inactivate M.bovis?
UV light and high temperatures
What is tuberculin testing used to determine?
The prevalence of Bovine Tuberculosis within herds
How is a tuberculin test conducted?
- inject tuberculin antigen into skin
- wait 24-72 hrs for an induced rxn
- palpate injection site; a positive rxn will have visible tissue disturbance
M. bovis is a facultative intracellular pathogen, what does this mean?
it can survive and reproduce outside of the original hosts’ cells
Once M.bovis enters the host, what cells act as reservoirs of infection?
Multinucleated Giant Cells (MNGCs)
- formed when macrophages initially engulf the pathogen; M.bovis uses MNGC formation to promote its own proliferation
What are the 3 modes of transmission of M.Bovis?
- Alimentary
- ingestion of M.bovis from contaminated sources - Percutaneous
- open wound contamination - Respiratory
- aerosolized then spread through droplets
What 4 governing bodies help control bovine tuberculosis?
- The Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- Chief Provincial Veterinarian
- The Provincial Public Health Department
- The Committee on Agriculture and Agri-food
What is the protocol for dealing with bTB positive animals?
Slaughter (infected and close-contact animals)
Are antimicrobials an effective treatment of bTB for humans?
Yes
In humans, what can tuberculosis be caused by?
M. tuberculosis (more common) and M. bovis
What is a ‘List A’ disease?
a more serious disease with greater socio-economic and public health implications, faster spreading
What are the main characteristics in determining the categorization of List A vs List B diseases?
- capacity to spread internationally
- risk to humans
- methods of diagnosis and detection
