Background
Bovine tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic disease of animals caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium bovis, (M. bovis) which is closely related to the bacteria that cause human and avian tuberculosis. This disease can affect practically all mammals, causing a general state of illness, coughing and eventual death. The name Tuberculosis comes from the nodules, called 'tubercles', which form in the lymph nodes of affected animals. Until the 1920s when control measures began in developed countries, it was one of the major diseases of domestic animals throughout the world. Today TB remains an important disease of cattle, wild animals, and is a significant zoonosis (a disease of animals which can also infect humans).
WHAT THE CWHC IS DOING
The CWHC conducts scanning surveillance for tuberculosis across Canada through post mortem examinations of species affected by the disease exhibiting symptoms suggesting presence of the disease. Such surveillance is important to identifying incidents in order to inform practioners and managers so that the appropriate strategies may be employed to limit or prevent further transmission of the disease.
