bovine tuberculosis

Bovine tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis, a species related to the one that causes tuberculosis in humans. This disease primarily affects cattle but can also infect other warm-blooded animals, including humans, typically through the consumption of raw milk from infected cows.12

The bacterium can spread through the respiratory system or from the gastrointestinal tract. In cattle, it can cause lesions in lymph nodes, bones, and joints, leading to deformities. A notable manifestation is Pott disease, a tuberculosis of the spine that can result in a hunchback deformity.1

While bovine tuberculosis has been largely eliminated in many developed countries through testing and slaughter programs, it remains a concern in areas where it has not been eradicated. Pasteurization of milk effectively kills the tubercle bacilli, and systematic identification and destruction of infected cattle have been crucial in controlling the disease in humans.21