Finding factors associated with nasal shedding of Mycobacterium tuberculosis variant bovis in wild boar

bovine TB (bTB) is an infectious disease – caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis variant bovis – that affects several species of animals. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies bTB as a neglected zoonotic disease, which makes control programmes essential for protecting not only animals but also people.1 Most bTB control and eradication programmes are based on the diagnosis and slaughter of infected animals. However, the efficacy of this approach is hampered by factors such as the existence of wildlife reservoirs, which can act as a source of infection for cattle herds.2 Among the potential bTB reservoir species identified, wild boar ( Sus scrofa ) are important players in Mediterranean ecosystems.3 Their importance as reservoirs is also being studied in other areas of the world. Measures to control bTB in wildlife populations have been implemented in several countries, with the strategies used depending on knowledge of the reservoir species involved and the epidemiological characterisation of the disease.4-6 In most strategies …