A case-control study on the association of selected risk factors with the occurrence of bovine tuberculosis in the Republic of Ireland

• Published in: Preventive veterinary medicine Vol. 27; no. 1; pp. 75 - 87
• Main Authors: Griffin, John M., Martin, S.Wayne, Thorburn, Meg A., Eves, John A., Hammond, Robert F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.06.1996
• Subjects: Bovine tuberculosis; Case-control study; Epidemiology; Republic of Ireland; Case-control study; Republic of Ireland; Epidemiology; Bovine tuberculosis
• ISSN: 0167-5877; 1873-1716
• DOI: 10.1016/0167-5877(95)00548-X

We did a case-control study on the association between the occurrence of bovine tuberculosis in herds in the East Offaly area and a number of possible risk factors; herd size, the purchasing of cattle, the herd history, the0 status of contiguous herds, distance to the nearest badger sett, and animal factors such as age, breed and animal type. The characteristics of 100 herds that had a confirmed outbreak of tuberculosis at a herd test in 1988 were compared with those from an equal number of herds that passed at least one tuberculin test during that year. The study base consisted of 1379 herds mainly from the eastern part of County Offaly. The data were analysed at both herd and animal levels. Factors that were associated with an increased risk of tuberculosis breakdowns at the herd level were (i) the total number of animals in the herd, and (ii) the restriction of a contiguous herd for tuberculosis within a period of 6 months prior to or following the herd under study. A number of factors were associated with an animal having an increased risk of failing a tuberculin test. After adjusting for all other variables in the model, cows, heifers and bullocks were 10.3, 14.8 and 8.0 times, respectively, more likely to fail a tuberculin test than calves. Cattle that had been purchased since the previous herd test were less likely to fail a tuberculin test compared with cattle that had been present at the time of the preceding herd test.