History of studies towards control and eradication of bovine tuberculosis in Turkey

Tuberculosis has been known to cause deaths in humans and animals since ancient times. This disease has almost been eliminated with the control and eradication studies which have been practiced in many European and new world countries from past to present.Although, it had been attempted to create spesific strategies to fight against tuberculosis in pre republic time, campaigns against this disease have been more effective after the proclamation of the republic. In this context, state institutions were given priority in the fight against tuberculosis and first sampling inspection was started in 1929 and then second inspection was carried out in 1938. First disciplined and territorial study in the fight against this disease, called as ?Turkey Tuberculosis Control Project? was prepared in 1985. Lastly, there was a nationwide campaign study that is expected to be completed on 31 July of 2011.In addition to the mentioned studies, agreement and legislations have been constituted including many decisions related with animal diseases in general, and with the preventing of tuberculosis in particular. The first accepted guide about the arrangement for tuberculosis in cattle called as ?Bovine Tuberculosis Instructions? came into force in 1932, afterwords five editings were done in relation with bovine tuberculosis.The aims of the present study were to examine and assess studies toward control and eradication of bovine tuberculosis from a historical perspective by starting from the oldest sources that could be reached data and thereby to provide data which will help develop more effective fighting strategies in general, and set light to control and eradication studies in particular.