Farm-level risk factors associated with bovine tuberculosis in the dairy sector in Eritrea.
The aim of our study was to determine the association of selected potential risk factors with the presence of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) in dairy herds in Eritrea. A case-control study was conducted in the three major milk-producing regions of the country by stratified random sampling of 61 case and 65 control herds combined with completion of a standardized pretested questionnaire pertaining 36 relevant risk factors (variables). The variables were divided into two clusters, based on potential association with either "introduction" or "establishment" of BTB on the farms to elucidate association with incident or prevalent cases separately. Subsequent to univariable analysis of the 36 risk factors at herd level, 14 of these were offered to multivariable logistic regression models. Farms with higher numbers of cows, and those with concrete floors, were 3.6, and 7.5 times more at risk for presence of BTB, respectively, compared with their references. These findings will be useful as entry points for future informed decision-making towards BTB control and eradication programme in the country.
Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.|Department of Veterinary Sciences, Hamelmalo Agricultural College, Keren, Eritrea.
M K
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5738-8235
MK
Ghebremariam
Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa.
A L
AL
Michel
Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
M
M
Nielen
Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
J C M
JCM
Vernooij
Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.|Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa.
V P M G
VPMG
Rutten
D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002417:Cattle; D003612:Dairying; D019017:Eritrea / Q000453:epidemiology; D000072480:Farms; D005260:Female; D016015:Logistic Models; D012307:Risk Factors; D014380:Tuberculosis, Bovine / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology
Eritrea; bovine tuberculosis; case-control study; dairy; risk factors