model of bovine tuberculosis control in domesticated cattle herds

• Published in: Proceedings of the Royal Society. B, Biological sciences Biological sciences, 1997-07, Vol.264 (1384), p.1069-1076
• Main Authors: Kao, R.R, Roberts, M.G, Ryan, T.J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal models; Animals; Animals, Domestic; BCG Vaccine; Cattle; disease control; Disease models; Epidemiologic Methods; Epidemiology; Herds; Infections; mathematical models; Models, Statistical; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Opossums; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis control; Tuberculosis, Bovine - epidemiology; Tuberculosis, Bovine - prevention & control; Tuberculosis, Bovine - transmission; Ungulates; Vaccination
• ISSN: 0962-8452; 1471-2954
• DOI: 10.1098/rspb.1997.0148

A typical strategy for disease control in domesticated animals involves regular field tests and quarantine of infected herds. This prevents disease spread beyond the herd, while slaughter of diseased animals removes the infection from within the herd. A model of bovine tuberculosis (Tb) control in cattle is examined, which includes 'test and slaughter' combined with herd isolation and vaccination. Herd status is represented by an integral equation expressing the duration of herd isolation. The current Tb situation in New Zealand is used as an example, and vaccination strategy discussed. Extrapolation of existing management strategies indicate that a vaccine of efficacy greater than 96 per cent would be required, reaching 95per cent of target Tb levels within six years. These results suggest that a complementary strategy of vaccination and vector control may be more promising than vaccination alone.