Mexico City /
This Friday began a bilateral project between Mexico and the United States to test a vaccine against bovine tuberculosis in Baja California.
This is a project that tests the effectiveness of an experiment against the infectious disease in up to 6,000 heads of dairy cattle, according to information released by the United States embassy in Mexico.
“The project will use an experimental design where four herds (each consisting of between 1,000 and 1,500 head of dairy cattle) will be evaluated in the Baja California region. Some cattle will receive the vaccine, while others will receive a placebo,” explained the ambassador, Ken Salazar.
The diplomat emphasized that the project seeks to evaluate the efficiency of a new vaccine that was produced in the United States specifically for this project, in order to protect dairy cows.
“Bovine tuberculosis has negative economic consequences for dairy farmers because the cattle affected by the disease are less productive,” the agreement highlighted with statements released by the US diplomatic representation.
In that same sense, Salazar said he was pleased to share the project, which he recalled, takes at least five years of planning and development to combat bovine tuberculosis caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium bovis (M.bovis).
Salazar highlighted that the project exemplifies the association between both countries in favor of achieving North America be a more prosperous region.
“This is the first project of its kind and a great example of the partnership between Mexico and the United States in favor of establishing North America as the most prosperous region,” he said.
The initiative is funded by the Agricultural Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Veterinary Services that work in collaboration with the Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development (Sader), the National Service of Health, Safety and Food Quality (SENASICA), the National Producer of Veterinary Biological Products (PRONAVIBE), as well as officials from the State Committee of Baja California, it was explained.
The disease can affect practically all mammals, including humans, in which it causes a deterioration in the general state of health, very often coughing and, in the long run, death.
The transmission of the disease originates from contact with infected animals, the usual transmission is through the respiratory route, and another route of infection is the digestive route.
Calves and humans become infected by ingesting raw milk from diseased cows, or by consuming contaminated unpasteurized dairy products.
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