Bovine tubercolosis: Epidemiological survey in 2000-2008 period in the province of Catania and medico-legal observations

Bovine tuberculosis (BT) is an important disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis, which can infect also man and wild animals. The application of the control measures included in the national tuberculosis eradication programmes, allowed us to reduce the prevalence of BT in several Italian regions. However further efforts are necessary to achieve the eradication of the disease in all the national territory. An important component of the eradication campaigns is a systematic epidemiological analysis of every tuberculosis outbreak, to determine areas with high risk of infection. This paper describes the epidemiological situation in Catania's province during an eight-year period (2000-2008) and the plan for control and eradication carried out by official veterinarians of Provincial Veterinary Unit. In particular data on BT control program were analysed. Medico-legal observation will be carried out.