Bovine Tuberculosis and the Multidrug Resistance of Mycobacterium

Jashima Debbarma

Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Selesih PO, Aizawl, Mizoram- 796015, India.

J B Rajesh *

Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Selesih PO, Aizawl, Mizoram- 796015, India.

Payel Kar

Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Selesih PO, Aizawl, Mizoram- 796015, India.

Manas Das

Department of Medicine, Indian Veterinary research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh- 243122, India.

C Christen

Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Selesih PO, Aizawl, Mizoram- 796015, India.

Binipi Debbarma

Department of Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Selesih PO, Aizawl, Mizoram- 796015, India.

Sherry Carelyne Marwein

Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Selesih PO, Aizawl, Mizoram- 796015, India.

Kh Thanila Rose

Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Selesih PO, Aizawl, Mizoram- 796015, India.

Elone Lucy

Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Selesih PO, Aizawl, Mizoram- 796015, India.

Ankita Debnath

Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Selesih PO, Aizawl, Mizoram- 796015, India.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) caused Mycobacterium bovis, is a chronic infectious disease that primarily affects cattle and can affect other animals also. This zoonotic disease spread around the world, with the exception of Antarctica. Around fifty million cattle are suffering from bTB worldwide. This disease is highly significant to public health, leading to economic losses, especially in countries where livestock are the main source of livelihood. Aerosol mode of transmission is the most common way of infection in cattle and infection also can spread through contaminated material. bTB affected animals will show fluctuating low-grade temperature, weakness, gradual emaciation, decreased appetite and breathing difficulty, wet cough, or tachypnoea. The caseo-necrotic granuloma is the hallmark of TB and which is a process by the host to localize the disease and to allow immune and inflammatory mechanisms to act on bacilli. Treatment is not recommended for bTB due to its infectious nature. Due to its infectious nature, culling is often recommended as part of control strategies in many regions. The drug for treating bTB is Rifampin and Isoniazid. Mycobacterium bovis–BCG vaccination is used for bTB control in India.

Keywords: BCG vaccine, cattle, control, multi-drug resistance, Mycobacterium bovis, public health, risk factors, worldwide, zoonosis


How to Cite

Jashima Debbarma, J B Rajesh, Payel Kar, Manas Das, C Christen, Binipi Debbarma, Sherry Carelyne Marwein, Kh Thanila Rose, Elone Lucy, and Ankita Debnath. 2025. “Bovine Tuberculosis and the Multidrug Resistance of Mycobacterium”. Archives of Current Research International 25 (7):405–419. https://doi.org/10.9734/acri/2025/v25i71346.