Bovine Tuberculosis
Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) is caused by the mycobacterium bovis. The disease is characterised by the development of "tuberculosis" lesions in any organ of the body. It mainly affects cattle but can be passed to and by all mammals, including humans.
Bovine tuberculosis is a notifiable disease and any suspicious clinical signs or lesions should be notified to the local DVM. Herds with reactor cattle are placed under movement restrictions and reactor cattle removed and compulsarily slaughted, as well as those considered to have been in direct contact. Bovine Tuberculosis seriously disrupts farm businesses and can be very expensive, therefore even farmers with little history of bovine tuberculosis breakdowns should consider taking precautionary measures to keep it out of their herds.
Current Situation
As of 8 September 2009 Scotland is officially Tuberculosis free (OTF). In order to maintain this status addtional control measures have been put in place for movements into Scotland. These measures are supported by new legislation
The Scottish Government is currently examining options to update the current testing regime. A research project on 'Risk-based Surveillance for Tuberculosis in Cattle' has been completed to inform the decisions taken.