Study on the transmission of animal tuberculosis in Cap Corse
Animal tuberculosis, caused mainly by Mycobacterium bovis, affects not only cattle, but also numerous species of domestic and wild mammals, as well as humans. France has been considered free of tuberculosis since 2001; however, Corsica, a region of extensive pastoral livestock farming, remains a particularly affected region with high intra-population prevalences in cattle, pigs as well as wild boar. The discovery of cases of tuberculosis in a cat in 2022 and in goats in 2023 in Cap Corse only serve to confirm the extent of the problem.  In this context, where each species can play a distinct epidemiological role, it is vital to understand the contribution of each in order to put in place effective control measures against the disease. Our aim was to determine the epidemiological role of the different host species using sequencing data from M. bovis strains, isolated from infected animals of different species in Corsica.