About this Research Topic

Background

Tuberculosis in livestock caused by members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTb) complex is a notifiable and zoonotic animal disease, which has been eradicated in many high-income economies. The first farm level eradication campaigns started in the late 1800's. Inspired by their results, a larger number of countries followed and efforts expanded in the first half of the 1900's into nationwide eradication campaigns. Successful campaigns were all built on a very strict test-and-slaughter strategy using the tuberculin PPD skin tests as diagnostic tool. However, tuberculosis in livestock remains endemic in most developing countries. This not only represents a threat to public health in those countries but also places a significant burden on their economies due to a negative impact on livestock productivity and the resources invested in healthcare, prevention, surveillance, and, when present, control and/or eradication programs. In addition, such programs must be tailored to be fit for purpose in each country considering the respective socio-economic context in which they have to be implemented, which will be highly influenced by the availability of local funding.

"Traditional" test and cull programs are costly, very demanding on the small livestock holder, and may be ruled out as option for religious reasons. Moreover, tuberculosis in livestock affects a variety of livestock, species as well as breeds, raised in a wide variety of farming systems, in a broad range of different climates, thus ruling out a "one size fits all" approach. At the same time, most countries trade animals as well as animal products with neighbouring countries requiring a strict compliance with international trade regulations. As a result, a wide range of different, more or less effective, strategies have been adopted to address the specific needs to control tuberculosis in livestock in different regions and/or countries.

For this Research Topic, manuscripts focusing on the design, description, evaluation, monitoring economic benefits of surveillance and/or eradication programs targeting tuberculosis in livestock in developing countries are welcome. In particular, manuscripts describing the development and evaluation of strategies suitable as alternatives for the test and cull approach fit for purpose in lower income countries are welcome.
This topic will serve not only as an update on the availability and current knowledge of potential approaches for control and eradication of tuberculosis in livestock in developing countries under different epidemiological field conditions, but also to foster new collaborations between researchers and their institutes addressing common and/or related problems.

The objectives of the studies submitted may include, but are not limited to, the following aspects:
• Design of surveillance programs to declare freedom from tuberculosis in livestock at the local, regional or national level in Africa, Asia and Latin America countries
• Experimental studies assessing the suitability of new diagnostic tools or vacciness provided there is a clear application and demonstrated reliability for disease surveillance/control under field conditions.
• Tuberculosis at the human-livestock interface in developing countries.
• Comparative evaluation of control strategies in endemic areas e.g.: test-and-cull versus alternatives.
• Cost-benefit analyses.
• Influence of situational socio-economic factors on the options and success of control and eradication programs.

Keywords: Bovine Tubercolosis, Diagnosis, Control, Economic Impact, Lower Income Countries

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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