The epidemiology of Mycobacterium bovis in Canadian cattle and cervidae between 1985-1994

This study examined and analysed the data from the 9 outbreaks of tuberculosis in Canadian cattle and cervidae from 1985-1994. Descriptions and diagrams were given for each outbreak. For the purposes of this study, a positive animal was one which was culture positive. A reactor animal was one which was positive or suspicious on a mid-cervical, comparative cervical, or gross or microscopic test for tuberculosis. Reactor or positive herds were farms with one or more reactor or positive animals, respectively. Herd data were collected from every farm while individual animal data were extracted only from farms which were classified as positive or reactor farms. Herd classification was either positive/reactor or negative. Data for the study were collected from the outbreak records in the Regional or District offices of Agriculture and Agrifood Canada's Animal and Plant Health Directorate. Index animals in 8 out of 9 outbreaks were identified either at routine slaughter surveillance or post mortem examination. One index herd was identified through routine skin testing at the owner's request.

Logistic regression was used to study between herd spread of tuberculosis. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).