Bovine tuberculosis still not to be forgotten even in the Czech Republic

Bovine tuberculosis is caused by two obligate pathogenic species, Mycobacterium bovis and M. caprae, that cause severe disease in animals and humans. The oral route of infection causing extrapulmonary forms of the disease in humans is more common than aerogenic infection causing pulmonary tuberculosis. Significant risk factors for the development of diseases in humans are mainly consuming insufficiently heat-treated milk or meat from infected animals. Since 2004, the Czech Republic has been listed among the EU countries that are officially free of bovine tuberculosis in cattle. In light of the increasing numbers of other animal species (esp. red deer and wild boars) infected with bovine tuberculosis in neighboring countries, it is necessary to draw attention to this situation.