What is a factor affecting the control of Tb in cattle?

The control of tuberculosis (Tb) in cattle is significantly impacted by wildlife reservoirs. This factor is critical because certain wildlife species can carry and transmit the Mycobacterium bovis bacteria, which causes bovine tuberculosis and can infect cattle. When wildlife populations serve as reservoirs for the disease, they can introduce the bacterium back into livestock populations, complicating management and eradication efforts. This wildlife-cattle interaction creates a continuous challenge for veterinary public health, as controlling Tb in domesticated animals becomes more difficult when they can be re-infected from the wildlife population.

In contrast to this factor, increased international trade does raise concerns about the spread of the disease across borders, but it doesn't inherently affect control measures within a specific region. High immunity in cattle hypothetically would assist in controlling Tb, but in reality, this level of immunity is not present and can vary significantly among populations. Strict FDA regulations do help manage and control food safety and animal health standards, but without addressing the presence of wildlife reservoirs, these regulations alone cannot effectively eliminate the disease from cattle populations.