REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio — Preliminary tests performed by the Ohio Department of Agriculture‘s Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory revealed a positive result for bovine tuberculosis in a Paulding County dairy herd.
There is no known human illness associated with this occurrence.
Origin unknown
The herd was found positive after routine tuberculosis testing by the department. The herd was depopulated, and the department is currently conducting a trace-in and trace-out investigation to determine if other livestock may be affected.
“We are currently working with our state and federal partners on this matter to take the necessary steps to identify the origin of the affected cattle,” said Ohio Director of Agriculture Robert Boggs.
About the disease
Tuberculosis is a disease caused by bacteria which affects the respiratory system. Bovine tuberculosis, also known as cattle TB, is an infectious form of tuberculosis as it infects most warm-blooded animals, including humans. It can manifest in livestock as a chronic, debilitating disease, and it may take years to develop bovine tuberculosis lesions in the lungs.
Airborne exposure from coughing and sneezing is considered to be the most frequent way in which bovine tuberculosis is spread, but it can also occur through consumption of contaminated water, feed or unpasteurized milk.
