More Simon J
Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis, School of Veterinary Medicine, UCD, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, D04 W6F6, Ireland.
Ir Vet J. 2024 Dec 20;77(1):22. doi: 10.1186/s13620-024-00282-z.
There has been a sharp disimprovement in the bovine tuberculosis (bTB) situation in Ireland in recent years. This commentary argues for critical programme change in three overarching themes relevant to the Irish bTB eradication programme, if eradication is to be successful: (1) Limiting infection in cattle. Residual (hidden) infection is an important constraint to eradication, due to the use of imperfect diagnostic tests. This is resolved with a risk-based approach, as is widely used in other national programmes, and would impact herd management, cattle trade and regionalisation. (2) Limiting infection within and from wildlife. Infection in wildlife is a key feature of bTB in many countries, including Ireland. Early research with badger vaccination has been promising. However, wide-scale badger vaccination has proved logistically challenging, and research to monitor progress is underway. It is unlikely that badger vaccination, in addition to current cattle controls, will be sufficient to achieve bTB eradication. (3) Programme leadership, management, governance and cost-sharing. There are a number of substantial, seemingly intractable, issues relating to programme leadership, management, governance and cost-sharing which alone are sufficient to preclude any sustained move to eradication. International examples of success are available, with funding models being critical to progress. In these three themes, most of the constraints are non-technical. If difficult decisions are not taken and the status quo is allowed to continue, there is a risk that infection may establish in further wildlife species, which may make eradication unattainable. Current decisions (including inaction) will impact future generations, including the general public (through the Exchequer) and future farming families.
近年来，爱尔兰的牛结核病（bTB）状况急剧恶化。本评论认为，如果要成功根除牛结核病，爱尔兰牛结核病根除计划需要在三个总体主题上进行重大的计划变革：（1）限制牛群中的感染。由于使用的诊断测试不完善，残留（隐藏）感染是根除工作的一个重要制约因素。采用基于风险的方法可以解决这一问题，其他国家的计划广泛使用这种方法，这将对畜群管理、 cattle trade和区域化产生影响。（2）限制野生动物内部及来自野生动物的感染。野生动物感染是包括爱尔兰在内的许多国家牛结核病的一个关键特征。早期对獾进行疫苗接种的研究很有前景。然而，事实证明，大规模的獾疫苗接种在后勤方面具有挑战性，目前正在进行监测进展情况的研究。除了目前对牛的控制措施外，仅靠獾疫苗接种不太可能实现牛结核病的根除。（3）计划的领导、管理、治理和成本分担。在计划的领导、管理、治理和成本分担方面存在一些重大的、看似棘手的问题，这些问题本身就足以排除任何持续的根除行动。有国际成功案例可供借鉴，资金模式对取得进展至关重要。在这三个主题中，大多数制约因素都不是技术性的。如果不做出艰难的决定，任由现状持续下去，就有可能导致感染在更多野生动物物种中传播，从而可能使根除变得无法实现。当前的决定（包括不作为）将影响子孙后代，包括普通公众（通过财政）和未来的养殖家庭。
