Abstract
Bovine tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic debilitating disease of huge economic importance due to loss in production, morbidity and mortality, and has a potential zoonotic threat. TB is endemic in India and has a worldwide prevalence, therefore, needing early diagnostic technique for the eradication of TB globally. Currently, compared to the eradication programme of TB in Medical sector, Veterinary sector is lagging behind though TB is one of the major zoonotic diseases prevalent in dairy animals and wildlife in India. With the “End TB” strategy by WHO in human, parallel measures for early diagnosis and culling has to be followed in case of animals for an overall successful eradication programme. The objective of this study is diagnosis of TB in cattle and buffaloes by using the cell-mediated immune response tests, i.e. Comparative Intradermal Tuberculin Test (CITT) and Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) assay, and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) targeting esxB gene (CFP-10 protein) and to compare their diagnostic capabilities. This study was carried out in 202 dairy cattle and buffaloes from an organized dairy farm, where almost all of the animals appeared clinically healthy. We found that, the combined use of both CITT and IFN-γ assay lead to more accurate diagnosis of TB, although IFN-γ assay was more specific than CITT. However, esxB PCR showed almost similar sensitivity to IFN-γ assay and may be used as a fast alternative method for the diagnosis of bovine TB from blood samples.
Highlights
TB caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) comprising of M. bovis, M. caprae and M. tuberculosis; is a major infectious and chronic wasting disease, having a zoonotic potential and a worldwide distribution [1]
The combined use of both Comparative Intradermal Tuberculin Test (CITT) and IFN-γ assay lead to more accurate diagnosis of TB, IFN-γ assay was more specific than CITT
CITT was performed on all the animals and blood samples were collected for IFN-γ assay and esxB Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Summary
TB caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) comprising of M. bovis, M. caprae and M. tuberculosis; is a major infectious and chronic wasting disease, having a zoonotic potential and a worldwide distribution [1]. Diagnosis of TB in the early stage is very important for effective prevention and control of the disease. Conventional diagnostic methods like culture and microscopy, though considered as gold standard, is time consuming and requires more than 3 weeks for the visible growth of MTC colony [4], besides, symptoms of TB mostly appears in late or advanced phage of the disease. Ante-mortem tests of cellular immune response (Tuberculin test and Interferon gamma Assay) and molecular diagnosis is required for the early diagnosis of the disease [2] [5]. Serological test like indirect ELISA can be used complementarily for screening of anti-TB antibody in a herd [6]
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