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Can We Breed Cattle for Lower Bovine TB Infectivity?
Smaragda Tsairidou1, Adrian Allen2, Georgios Banos1,3
1The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
|December 25, 2018
Summary
Reducing bovine tuberculosis (bTB) risk in cattle may be accelerated by selecting for reduced infectivity, not just resistance. Genetic variation in cattle infectivity can be exploited to lower bTB transmission and herd breakdowns.
Area of Science:
- Animal Genetics
- Veterinary Epidemiology
- Infectious Disease Transmission
Background:
- Host resistance and infectivity are key genetic factors influencing infectious disease spread.
- Variability in Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) shedding in cattle and wildlife has been observed, but often attributed to infection dose and route rather than host genetics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of cattle infectivity in bovine tuberculosis (bTB) transmission.
- To assess the feasibility and benefits of incorporating infectivity into cattle breeding programs for bTB control.
Main Methods:
- Reviewing evidence supporting the hypothesis that bTB infectivity is genetically controlled.
- Describing methodologies for detecting and estimating genetic parameters for infectivity.
- Utilizing genetic-epidemiological prediction models and simulations.
Main Results:
- Simulations suggest that selecting for reduced infectivity alongside resistance can enhance and accelerate the reduction of bTB breakdown risk.
- Identifying and reducing the prevalence of highly infective cattle could mitigate a significant risk factor in herds exposed to bTB.
Conclusions:
- Integrating genetic selection for reduced infectivity into breeding schemes is a timely consideration for bTB eradication efforts.
- Exploiting genetic variation in cattle infectivity offers a complementary strategy to resistance selection for improved bTB management.
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