Epidemiology caught in the causal web of bovine tuberculosis

Bovine tuberculosis in domestic cattle in the presence of significant infection levels in wild animal species represents a major challenge for disease control. The use of wild animal population density reduction as part of risk management policies is highly controversial from the perspectives of scientific effectiveness and societal acceptability. The experience in Great Britain in dealing with this problem over the last 20 years demonstrates the need to engage in an integrated approach towards risk governance to more effectively deal with such a complex and contentious multifactorial animal disease problem. As part of this process, the traditional emphasis on bioscientific, in particular epidemiological, research needs to be complemented by relevant social science approaches. In addition, the risk assessment as well as the risk management should have effective participatory elements.