Outbreak of bovine brucellosis in County Clare, Ireland, in 2005
- M. Hayes, MVB1,5,
- A. Kilroy, MVB1,
- S. Ashe, MVB, DLSHTM, MSc, DipGIS2,6,
- S. Power, MVB, DiplECVP, MRCVS3,
- K. Kenny, MVB, PhD4,
- D. M. Collins, DipGIS2 and
- S. J. More, BVSc, MVB, DipDM, MACVSc, PhD, FACVSc, DipECVPH, DipECBHM2
- 1District Veterinary Office, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Ennis, County Clare, Ireland
- 2Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
- 3Blood Testing Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Model Farm Road, Cork, Ireland
- 4Centre Veterinary Research Laboratory, Backweston, Celbridge, County Kildare, Ireland
- 5District Veterinary Office, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Tipperary, County Tipperary, Ireland
- 6Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
- E-mail for correspondence: martin.hayes{at}agriculture.gov.ie
Abstract
This paper describes an investigation of an outbreak of bovine brucellosis in County Clare, Ireland, during 2005. It is likely that infection on the index farm was linked to a previous outbreak of brucellosis in County Clare. During March to May 2005, transmission of brucellosis within the herd was rapid; this was facilitated by a range of factors, including close contact between cattle kept in winter housing, and the mixing of animals, both during grazing and at housing, throughout the year. Containment of the disease, including only limited spread to one contiguous herd, was facilitated by the recent construction of a shed for winter housing.
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