Identification of Mycobacterium bovis infected cattle by immunological and molecular methods

Fernando Díaz Otero; Víctor Banda Ruiz; Laura Jaramillo Meza; Camila Arriaga Díaz; Dante González Salazar; Ciro Estrada-Chávez

2003, Number 1

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Vet Mex 2003; 34 (1)

Identification of Mycobacterium bovis infected cattle by immunological and molecular methods

Díaz OF, Banda RV, Jaramillo ML, Arriaga DC, González SD, Estrada-Chávez C

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Language: English/Spanish
References: 45
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ABSTRACT

Diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis (TB) is usually performed by the tuberculin intradermal test, which allows detection of cattle that have been exposed to Mycobacterium bovis. However, in herds where control of TB is based on the identification and removal of reactors to this test, some animals in advanced stages of the disease and with open lesions do not show reactivity to tuberculin (anergic), and might remain in the herd, thus constituting a potential source of infection in susceptible cattle. The objective of this study was to use alternative methods of diagnosis to identify positive TB bovines that are not detected by the intradermal test. A dairy herd of 277 bovines, which had been under supervision by the National TB Control and Eradication Campaign in Mexico (CANETB), was selected. A serologic survey was carried out to determine the presence of antibodies against components of the culture filtrate protein extract (CFPE) by immunoenzymatic methods (ELISA). Eleven samples were considered positive as they showed optical density (OD) values equal or higher than the cut-off value (OD = 0.300). These animals were analyzed again by ELISA, using both M. bovis and M. avium CFPE, in order to confirm infection. In addition, production of interferon-g (IFN-g) was also determined in whole blood samples using a commercial kit. DNA obtained from nasal swabs of the same animals was analyzed by spoligotyping. Results obtained in these assays indicated that 8/11 were positive to ELISA, 7/11 showed production of IFN-g, and 6/11 were positive by spoligotyping. Tests used in this study identified several anergic animals in this herd. It is considered that these methods could be useful in the control of TB in areas of low prevalence (‹1%), since the intradermal test does not detect bovines in an advanced stage of the disease. These alternative methods could be used together with the tuberculin test for a more reliable diagnosis of tuberculosis.

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