Table 2. Overview of occupational exposure to M. bovis.

Occupational exposure	Transmission pathways	Preventive measures
Farmers	Respiratory transmission (close contacts with cows)	Herd testing, hygiene measures and respiratory protection if an animal has respiratory symptoms
Veterinarians and assistants	Accidental cutaneous inoculation (wound) and possible respiratory transmission while performing necropsies	Wearing gloves and respiratory protection while performing medical procedures involving close contacts with infected animals
Slaughterhouse workers	Accidental cutaneous inoculation while manipulating carcasses with knives (wound)	Hygiene measures. Wearing gloves. Information about clinical signs suggestive of bovine tuberculosis, transmission pathways of the disease and management of infected carcasses
Hunters and workers with wild animals

In all groups, consumption of unpasteurised dairy products is a known transmission pathway. Immunosuppression increases the risk of reactivation of latent bovine tuberculosis.