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How Bovine TB is Spread

The disease affects many domestic species (including dogs, cats and deer) with recorded herd outbreaks in goats and camelids (llamas and alpacas).

There is still some uncertainty surrounding bovine TB and the way it is transmitted. In man TB is spread primarily through the exchange of respiratory secretions between infected and uninfected people. This transmission usually happens when people are in close contact with each other. Bacteria released into the air, through coughing and sneezing, can spread the disease. Transmission of bovine TB is likely through contamination of pasture that is grazed by cattle.

Bovine TB is a chronic disease and it can take years to develop. M.bovis grows very slowly and only replicates every 12-20 hours. The lymph nodes in the animal’s head usually show infection first and as the disease progresses lesions will begin to develop on the surface of the lungs and chest cavity.

Due to the slow progression of infection, the clinical signs of bTB, such as weakness, coughing and loss of weight, are now rarely seen in cattle in the UK.

The Government’s compulsory testing and slaughter programme ensures that most cattle herds are tested regularly for bTB. The programme identifies most infected cattle before the disease is clinically apparent.


 


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