Human and bovine tuberculosis in the Monze District of Zambia--a cross-sectional study

Abstract

One hundred and seventy-six randomly selected rural households in the Monze District of Zambia were interviewed; 103 of these presented cattle for tuberculin testing. Of the 2226 cattle tested, 165 (7.4%) were positive reactors; 33% of herds contained positive animals. Risk of a positive reaction varied with an animal's age and body condition. Cattle in larger herds were more likely to give positive reactions. Ten households reported a human case of tuberculosis (TB) during the preceding 12 months; the herds or these households were six times more likely to have a tuberculin-positive animal than herds in households without a reported human TB case.