Modeling the Transmission Dynamics of Bovine Tuberculosis

Abstract

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a bacterial and zoonotic disease which is transmitted through consumption of unpasteurized milk and uncooked meat and inhalation of aerosols. In this paper, a deterministic mathematical model is formulated to study the transmission dynamics of bTB in humans and animals. The basic reproduction number R0 is computed to determine the behavior of the disease. Stability analysis shows that there is a possibility for disease-free equilibrium and endemic equilibrium to coexist when R0 = 1. To determine parameters which drive the dynamics of bTB, we performed sensitivity analysis. The analysis shows that the rate at which dairy products are produced, the rate of transmission of bTB from animal to animal, and the rates at which human acquires bTB from infectious dairy products and animals drive the transmission of bTB. However, the disease decreases as the rate of consumption of dairy products decreases. To control bTB, education campaign, inspection of dairy products, treatment of infected humans, and quarantine of infected animals are recommended.