Brucellosis and Foot-and-Mouth Disease: A Review of Vaccination Strategies and Economic Impacts in Türkiye

Abstract

Brucellosis (Brucella spp.) and Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) remain among the most economically significant zoonotic and viral infections affecting livestock production in Türkiye, resulting in annual national losses worth millions of US dollars. This review analyzes the economic impact and cost–benefit outcomes of vaccination programs implemented for the control of these diseases. Evidence indicates that systematic and large-scale vaccination campaigns substantially reduce production losses in milk and meat yield, increase farmers’ net income, and lower expenditures related to treatment, compensation, and outbreak management. For FMD, biannual or triannual vaccination programs in border regions have been shown to yield an additional net gain of approximately USD 15–20 per animal. Similarly, brucellosis vaccination not only prevents reproductive and production losses but also reduces public health expenditures and productivity loss associated with human infection. Cost–benefit analyses suggest that each 1 Turkish Lira invested in brucellosis vaccination generates an estimated economic return of 2–2.5 Lira. These findings highlight vaccination as both a microeconomic tool for sustaining livestock profitability and a macroeconomic instrument for enhancing national agricultural competitiveness. Moreover, the integration of vaccination with test-and-slaughter strategies contributes to the eradication of endemic infection sources and facilitates access to higher-value export markets. In conclusion, sustainable economic gains from the control of FMD and brucellosis can only be achieved through maintaining high vaccination coverage, strengthening domestic vaccine production capacity, and implementing coordinated, One Health–oriented policies that align animal health, public health, and economic priorities.