What is zoonotic tuberculosis?
Mycobacterium bovis is the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis (bTB). The spread of M. bovis to people results in a form of tuberculosis called zoonotic tuberculosis (zTB). Whilst bTB can affect a range of animals, it mainly affects cattle in the UK, so individuals who have contact with M. bovis infected cattle may be at risk of zTB.
The ZooTB study
Each year in the UK, around 30 to 40 people are diagnosed with TB due to M. bovis. The symptoms of zoonotic TB are similar to other TB symptoms in people: a persistent cough, weight loss, fever, loss of appetite. We do not have an accurate estimate for the number of people who might have been exposed to M. bovis as a result of their occupational risk i.e., working with TB infected cattle – this study will help answer this.
The ZooTB study aims to estimate the prevalence of zTB in Southwest England and understand the risk factors for this disease, particularly in individuals who are regularly exposed to cattle.