Introduction

Africa is a vast continent, and it is the second largest on the planet. It is subdivided into 54 countries with a large diversity of ethnic groups and languages, an enormous livestock population, and a unique diversity of wildlife.

Livestock numbers on the continent are large, and this form of agriculture is critical in sustaining many of the communities, of which in Western and Eastern Africa, large numbers live nomadic lives. Nomadic communities participate in one or other form of transhumance, characterized by the seasonal migration of people and their livestock across international boundaries, making disease control in live­stock almost impossible. This diversity of people, livestock husbandry practices, and wildlife present major challenges to policy makers and regulatory authorities, including those managing and controlling diseases. Many of the epidemic diseases of humans and animals of global importance are prevalent on the continent and affect the wellbeing of humans and the distribution of its livestock and wildlife. A large number of these diseases are zoonoses, and livestock, but particularly wildlife, play a major role in sustaining these infections. The complexity of the demographics of Africa and the lack of technical personnel and financial resources have a profound effect on the ability of the continent to manage these important diseases.

N. P. J. Kriek (EI)

Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa

© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019 3

A. B. Dibaba et al. (eds.), Tuberculosis in Animals: An African Perspective, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18690-6_1

Tuberculosis is of major importance in livestock, wildlife, and humans and has a global distribution. With its many manifestations and numerous species susceptible to infection by the mycobacteria that cause the disease, it is endemic on the continent and is present in its humans, livestock, and wildlife. The content of this book deals with the various aspects of Mycobacterium bovis infection in Africa in livestock (cattle in particular), wildlife, and humans that are prone to contract this serious infection.

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