How do cattle become infected?
A description of how cattle can become infected with Bovine Tuberculosis (TB).
Cattle are known to have been infected with the bovine type of TB ever since the cause of TB was discovered. Thanks to TB control programmes, the level of infection has fallen in recent years.
Evidence of Bovine Tuberculosis is most commonly found in the throat and lungs of affected animals. This means that the bacteria, which cause the disease, are passed out of the infected animal’s body in its breath or in discharges from the nose or mouth.
Cattle can spread this disease to other cattle in a number of ways:
- Cattle, which come into nose-to-nose contact with an infected animal, may breathe in the bacteria which cause the disease.
- Cattle, which are kept in winter housing with an infected animal, may become infected because the bacteria which cause the disease can be carried in moisture droplets and this kind of atmosphere is commonly found in wintering sheds.
