Farmer and veterinarian attitudes towards the risk of zoonotic <i>Mycobacterium bovis</i> infection in Northern Ireland

Robinson, Philip A.

doi:10.1136/vr.105389

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Mycobacterium bovis and Brucella abortus in raw milk do not appear to be major concerns in modern times in developed countries, due to disease eradication programmes and pasteurisation, they are considered low threats ( Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), 2009 ). However, Robinson (2019) has argued that the risk to humans may be under-appreciated in developed countries with endemic bovine tuberculosis, and outbreaks linked to unpasteurised milk consumption have occurred associated with both diseases ( e.g. , M. bovis — Doran et al, 2009 ; B. abortus RB51 vaccine-associated— Sfeir, 2018 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drivers and hazards of consumption of unpasteurised bovine milk and milk products in high-income countries

Robinson

2022

PeerJ

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Introduction The consumption of dairy products contributes to health, nutrition, and livelihoods globally. However, dairy products do not come without microbiological food safety risks for consumers. Despite this risk, common hygiene measures in high-income countries, particularly pasteurisation, ensures that milk is safe, and is indeed frequently mandated by law. Nevertheless, over the past two decades, there has been a global increase in the number of consumers in high-income developed countries actively seeking out unpasteurised milk in liquid and product forms for perceived nutritional and health benefits, and improved taste. The often-anecdotal claims upon which consumers make such choices are not all supported by scientific evidence; however, some recent research studies have investigated (and in some cases demonstrated) the positive impact of unpasteurised milk consumption on the prevalence of asthma, atopy, rectal cancer and respiratory illness. Methods To investigate the significance of unpasteurised milk and milk product consumption for human health in high-income countries, outbreak data between the years 2000 and 2018 were obtained for the United States of America, Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan, New Zealand and Australia, which were then categorized into three World Health Organisation subregions: AMR A, EUR A and WPR A. Outbreak dynamic variables such as pathogens, the place of consumption, numbers of outbreaks and deaths per million capita, the average number of cases per outbreak and regulations were described and analysed using R Studio. To provide an overview of unpasteurised milk-related disease outbreaks, a rapid evidence review was also undertaken to establish an overview of what is known in the current literature about hazards and drivers of consumption. Results Foodborne outbreaks associated with unpasteurised dairy consumption have risen in high-income countries over the period 2000 to 2018, with Campylobacter spp. being the most common aetiological agent responsible, followed by Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. The most common places of consumption are on farms or in households, indicating individuals choose to drink unpasteurised milk, rather than a widespread distribution of the product, for example, at social events and in schools. Further study is needed to better understand contributing factors, such as cultural differences in the consumption of dairy products. Conclusion There are several observable health benefits linked to consuming raw milk, but outbreaks associated with unpasteurised milk and milk products are on the rise. It cannot be definitively concluded whether the benefits outweigh the risks, and ultimately the decision lies with the individual consumer. Nevertheless, many countries have regulations in place to protect consumer health, acknowledging the definite risks to human health that unpasteurised dairy foods may pose, particularly from microbial hazards.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drivers and hazards of consumption of unpasteurised bovine milk and milk products in high-income countries

Robinson

2022

PeerJ

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“…A semi-structured interview evaluating the attitude among farmers and veterinarian in Northern Ireland on the risk of contracting M. bovis infection depicted that the risk of M. bovis infection is often downplayed and is no longer being considered as a public health risk due to intensive surveillance on farms and pasteurisation of milk evident by the low-recorded human incidence. Nevertheless, the authors highlighted the needs to revise the attitude and practice by the stakeholders on the occupational and public health threats of M. bovis infection including developed nations with ongoing bovine tuberculosis eradication programmes (Robinson 2019 ). A study assessing the health system, policy and dairy farm-level factors which could have impact on the zoonotic transmission have been performed in smallholder peri-urban dairy farms in India (Chauhan et al 2019 ).…”

Section: Tackling M Bovis Infection At Human–animmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occupational exposure and challenges in tackling M. bovis at human–animal interface: a narrative review

Devi

Lee²,

Yan

et al. 2021

Int Arch Occup Environ Health

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Zoonotic tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) , a member of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) has increasingly gathered attention as a public health risk, particularly in developing countries with higher disease prevalence. M. bovis is capable of infecting multiple hosts encompassing a number of domestic animals, in particular cattle as well as a broad range of wildlife reservoirs. Humans are the incidental hosts of M. bovis whereby its transmission to humans is primarily through the consumption of cattle products such as unpasteurized milk or raw meat products that have been contaminated with M. bovis or the transmission could be due to close contact with infected cattle. Also, the transmission could occur through aerosol inhalation of infective droplets or infected body fluids or tissues in the presence of wound from infected animals. The zoonotic risk of M. bovis in humans exemplified by miscellaneous studies across different countries suggested the risk of occupational exposure towards M. bovis infection, especially those animal handlers that have close and unreserved contact with cattle and wildlife populations These animal handlers comprising of livestock farmers, abattoir workers, veterinarians and their assistants, hunters, wildlife workers as well as other animal handlers are at different risk of contracting M. bovis infection, depending on the nature of their jobs and how close is their interaction with infected animals. It is crucial to identify the underlying transmission risk factors and probable transmission pathways involved in the zoonotic transmission of M. bovis from animals to humans for better designation and development of specific preventive measures and guidelines that could reduce the risk of transmission and to protect these different occupational-related/populations at risk. Effective control and disease management of zoonotic tuberculosis caused by M. bovis in humans are also hindered by various challenges and factors involved at animal–human interface. A closer look into factors affecting proper disease control and management of M. bovis are therefore warranted. Hence, in this narrative review, we have gathered a number of different studies to highlight the risk of occupational exposure to M. bovis infection and addressed the limitations and challenges underlying this context. This review also shed lights on various components and approaches in tackling M. bovis infection at animal–human interface.

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“…Therefore, people's perceptions and subsequent behaviour likely play a pivotal role not only in direct exposure, transmission and control of zoonotic diseases [ 8 , 9 ] but also in mitigating their consequences more broadly across society for both humans and animals. Previous research seeking to aid policy formulation in this area has typically concentrated on public attitudes and understanding of the potential risks of one or two specific zoonoses at a time [ 10 , 11 ]. Yet, we know little of the manner in which lay perceptions of risk vary across differing zoonotic diseases, a likely important factor when considering where to target finite resources.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of disease characteristics and knowledge on public risk perception of zoonoses

2022

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Zoonoses represent a global public health threat. Understanding lay perceptions of risk associated with these diseases can better inform proportionate policy interventions that mitigate their current and future impacts. While individual zoonoses (e.g. bovine spongiform encephalopathy) have received scientific and public attention, we know little about how multiple zoonotic diseases vary relative to each other in lay risk perceptions. To this end, we examined public perceptions of 11 zoonoses across 12 qualitative attributes of risk among the UK public ( n = 727, volunteer sample), using an online survey. We found that attribute ratings were predominantly explained via two basic dimensions of risk related to public knowledge and dread. We also show that, despite participants reporting low familiarity with most of the diseases presented, zoonoses were perceived as essentially avoidable. These findings imply that infection is viewed as dependent upon actions under personal control which has significant implications for policy development.

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Farmer and veterinarian attitudes towards the risk of zoonotic Mycobacterium bovis infection in Northern Ireland

Cited by 5 publications

References 35 publications

Drivers and hazards of consumption of unpasteurised bovine milk and milk products in high-income countries

Drivers and hazards of consumption of unpasteurised bovine milk and milk products in high-income countries

Occupational exposure and challenges in tackling M. bovis at human–animal interface: a narrative review

Impact of disease characteristics and knowledge on public risk perception of zoonoses

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