An outbreak of tuberculosis affecting cattle and people on an Irish dairy farm, following the consumption of raw milk

Abstract

Bovine tuberculosis is an ongoing problem in Ireland, and herd incidence has remained at approximately 5% for some years. Spillover of infection from cattle to people remains an ever-present possibility, given the ongoing pool of infection in the Irish cattle population. This paper describes an outbreak of tuberculosis affecting cattle and people on a dairy farm in southeastern Ireland following the consumption of milk from a seven-year-old cow with tuberculous mastitis. Twenty-five of 28 calves born during autumn 2004 and spring 2005 were subsequently identified as TB reactors, and five of six family members were positive on the Mantoux test. During 2005, milk from this cow had mainly been used to feed calves, and was added only occasionally to the bulk tank. Therefore, the calves each received infected milk on an almost continuous basis between birth and weaning. The family collected milk from the bulk milk tank, and consumed it without pasteurisation. This case highlights the risks associated with the consumption of raw milk. In this family, TB has had a very significant impact on the health of two young children. These risks are well recognised, and relevant information for farmers is available. It is of concern, therefore, that raw milk consumption remains prevalent on Irish farms. New strategies are needed, in partnership with industry, to address this important issue. Keywords: bovine tuberculosis, Ireland, mastitis, milk, Mycobacterium bovis, pasteurisation, TB, zoonosis

Public health and bovine tuberculosis: what's all the fuss about?

“…Indeed, a recent familiar outbreak of bTB in Ireland was as a result of the consumption of unpasteurised milk [10]. Nevertheless, belief is widespread that transmission from cattle to humans by aerosol is also important.…”

Scientific Opinion on the public health risks related to the consumption of raw drinking milk

“…An outbreak of M. bovis infection associated with consuming raw milk from cows, affecting five family members on a farm in Ireland, was reported in 2005 (Doran et al, 2009). According to the EU Summary Report on trends and sources of zoonoses, zoonotic agents and food-borne outbreaks in 2012 (EFSA and ECDC, 2014), 25 MS provided information on human tuberculosis due to M. bovis.…”

Diagnóstico histopatológico e molecular de lesões sugestivas de tuberculose em búfalos abatidos nos municípios de Macapá e Santana, estado do Amapá

“…Casos humanos de tuberculose por ingestão de leite, chamada escrófula, são amplamente citados na literatura (Moda et al 1996, Cosivi et al 1998, Thoen et al 2006, Doran et al 2009) e a confirmação de M. bovis em amostras de leite através de testes moleculares (PCR) torna possível a rápida detecção do agente e aplicação de medidas de controle e erradicação da enfermidade em rebanhos infectados (Akhtar et al 2015, Cezar et al 2016.…”