title: Epidemiology of Mycobacterium bovis Disease in Humans in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, 2002-2014.
abstract: Despite control efforts, Mycobacterium bovis incidence among cattle remains high in parts of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, attracting political and public health interest in potential spread from animals to humans. To determine incidence among humans and to identify associated factors, we conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of human M. bovis cases in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland during 2002-2014. We identified 357 cases and observed increased annual case numbers (from 17 to 35) and rates. Most patients were >65 years of age and born in the United Kingdom. The median age of UK-born patients decreased over time. For 74% of patients, exposure to risk factors accounting for M. bovis acquisition, most frequently consumption of unpasteurized milk, was known. Despite the small increase in case numbers and reduction in patient age, M. bovis infection of humans in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland remains rare.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Miranda G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Loutet
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Cathriona
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kearns
authors.forename: Robert M M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Maeve K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Lalor
authors.forename: H Lucy
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Abubakar
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zenner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis; D009660:Northern Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: England; Mycobacterium bovis; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Northern Ireland; Wales; bacteria; epidemiology; tuberculosis and other mycobacteria; zoonoses; zoonotic diseases