Research Output
1 - 5 of 5
Publication
Singleton bovine tuberculosis breakdowns as a predictor of future herd breakdowns in Ireland
2003-12, Olea-Popelka, Francisco, White, Paul, Collins, John D., O'Keeffe, James, Martin, S. Wayne, Collins, John D., Hammond, Robert F.
Publication
A case study of bovine tuberculosis in an area of County Donegal, Ireland
2006, Olea-Popelka, Francisco, Butler, Dermot, Lavin, Des, et al.
A descriptive analysis, to investigate the potential risk factors that might have contributed to the increased incidence of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) herd-breakdowns in the reference area of Co. Donegal during the fifth year of the four-area project (FAP), was performed. Seventy two different herds were restricted for BTB during the FAP; 10 of these herds were restricted twice, resulting in a total of 82 BTB breakdowns. During the first four years of the FAP, the number of BTB herd breakdowns in the area varied from a lowest of nine to a maximum of 18 per year, and were geographically dispersed. In the fifth year of the study a considerable increase in the number of BTB breakdowns (n = 32) was observed, and there was a spatial 'cluster' of infected herds in the eastern part of the study area. The increased number of BTB breakdowns during the fifth year most likely occurred because of the recrudescence of infection, herd-to-herd transmission and, to a lesser extent, purchase of infected cattle. Infected badgers remain as a possible but less likely source of infection, especially as an explanation for the cluster of infected herds. The analysis supports the hypothesis that BTB in herds is a problem that cannot be addressed successfully by dedicating our efforts to the elimination of single risk factors. Neither is it a problem that needs to be investigated only at the herd level, but rather at the area level, including groups of contiguous herds.
Publication
Spatial and temporal distribution of bovine tuberculosis in badgers in Four Areas in Ireland: preliminary findings
2002-06, Olea-Popelka, Francisco, Martin, S. Wayne, Griffin, John M., Collins, John D., McGrath, Guy, Collins, John D., Hammond, Robert F.
Publication
Multiple standard reactors during bovine tuberculosis episode as a predictor of future herd breakdowns in Ireland
2003-12, Olea-Popelka, Francisco, White, Paul, Collins, John D., O'Keeffe, James, Martin, S. Wayne, Collins, John D., Hammond, Robert F.
Publication
Relative effectiveness of irish factories in the surveillance of slaughtered cattle for visible lesions of tuberculosis, 2005-2007
2012, Olea-Popelka, Francisco, Freeman, Zach, White, Paul, et al.
Background: In Ireland, every animal is examined at slaughter for its fitness for human consumption. The aim of this study was to determine the relative effectiveness of factories in submitting and subsequently in having suspect lesions confirmed as bovine tuberculosis (TB) lesions during the years 2005-2007. This work provides an update from previously published data for years 2003-2004. During 2005-2007 data were available on 4,401,813 cattle from attested herds (i.e. herds classified free of bovine TB), from which data for potential confounding factors were available for 3,344,057 slaughtered animals at one of the 37 export-licensed factories. Findings: From these animals, 8,178 suspect lesions were submitted for laboratory confirmation. Lesions from 5,456 (66.7%) animals tested as positive, and 269 (3.2%) were inconclusive for bovine TB. Logistic regression was used to determine adjusted submission and confirmation risks for each factory while controlling for confounding factors. Factory rankings based on adjusted and crude risks were similar. The average crude submission risk for all the factories was 25 lesions per 10,000 animals slaughtered, ranging from 0 to 52. The crude confirmation risk varied between 30.3% and 91.3%. Conclusions: Substantial variation in the effectiveness of lesion submission and subsequent confirmation as bovine TB was found among the 37 factories. Compared to previous years (2003-2004), there was an increased bovine TB lesion submission and confirmation risk. Continued monitoring of the effectiveness of slaughter surveillance in Ireland is recommended; emphasis should be placed on efforts to improve bovine TB surveillance in factories with lower rankings.