Incidence and eradication of bovine tuberculosis in some EU countries and in Poland

Tuberculosis is one of the most widespread infectious diseases in the world. It is caused by M. bovis, a microorganism which may be found in both wild as well as farm animals. Animal tuberculosis is under control in industrialized countries and elimination programs continue to be carried out in them. Despite this, the disease still poses a problem in some EU countries, for instance France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain. Poland was declared bovine tuberculosis free on 31 December, 1975. Between 1958-1975 during the national disease control campaign, 83 million cattle were examined for tuberculosis and 3,614,376 (4,35%) cattle with positive reactions were slaughtered. Each year between 1980-1996, from 3,985,726 (1981) to 2,171,654 (1996) cattle were tested for tuberculosis-about 31% of the total cattle in Poland. The number of cattle identified as being ill or suspected to be ill was from 6,954 (0,17%) in 1980 to 493 (0,02%) in 1996. Each year between 1997-2001 from 2,009,184 (1997) to 1,488,621 (2001) animals were tested for the disease. The number suspected of having tuberculosis was 399 (0,01%) to 156 (0,01%) in 2001. Tuberculosis outbreaks may still occasionally occur and monitoring based on tuberculin testing and on veterinary post-slaughter inspection of carcasses and abattoirs is being continued.