Molecular Epidemiology of Mycobacterium bovis

In 1998 the World Health Organisation (Cosivi et al. 1998) estimated that the incidence of human tuberculosis would be 88 million, resulting in 30 million deaths for the period 1990–1999 and the majority of cases would be in developing countries. In these countries, tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium bovis, is present in animals. However, surveillance and control programmes for animal tuberculosis in these countries are often inadequate or non-existent. Consequently, the epidemiology of M. bovis in public health issues remains largely unknown (Cosivi et al. 1998). M. bovis has an exceptionally broad host range that includes farmed and feral animals, wildlife and also humans (O’Reilly and Daborn 1995). Its epidemiological pattern in developing and developed countries can be very complex. It is classified as a List B disease by the Office International des Epizootiques (OIE) and considered of socio-economic importance as well as public health significance, as it impacts significantly on the international trade of animals and animal products and hence local livelihoods (Cousins 2001; Cousins and Roberts 2001).