Bovine Tuberculosis: A Re-emerging Zoonotic Infection

Bovine tuberculosis is caused byMycobacterium bovis (M. bovis), which infects both humans and cattle. In 2018, a dairy farm in Wisconsin was affected byM. bovis, including a farmworker with exposure to the affected herd. Largely eradicated by effective public health strategies in the United States, most cases are now associated with risk factors including occupational hazards, food consumption, and iatrogenic infections.M. boviscontinues to cause disease worldwide affecting certain at-risk populations in the United States. Infections more often result in extrapulmonary sequelae and resistance to pyrazinamide is universal. Thus, successful treatment depends on early and correct identification of the mycobacterium species. A One Health approach to control this re-emerging disease is crucial.