EDP Sciences Journals List
Advanced Search
Free access article

Issue Vet. Res.
Volume 37, Number 4, July-August 2006
Page(s) 593 - 606
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/vetres:2006021
Published online 16 May 2006
How to cite this article Vet. Res. (2006) 593-606

Vet. Res. 37 (2006) 593-606
DOI: 10.1051/vetres:2006021

Assessment of diagnostic tools for eradication of bovine tuberculosis in cattle co-infected with Mycobacterium bovis and M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis

Alicia Aranaza, Lucía De juana, Javier Bezosa, Julio Álvareza, Beatriz Romeroa, Francisco Lozanoa, José L. Paramiob, Jesús López-Sánchezc, Ana Mateosa and Lucas Domíngueza

a  Departamento de Sanidad Animal I, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Av. Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
b  Subdirección General de Sanidad Animal, Dirección General de Ganadería, MAPA, 28071 Madrid, Spain
c  Laboratorio Regional Pecuario, Consejería de Agricultura, JCCM, 02071 Albacete, Spain

(Received 12 August 2005; accepted 31 January 2006; published online 16 May 2006)

Abstract - The intradermal tuberculin (IDTB) test and the interferon-gamma (IFN-$\gamma$) assay are used worldwide for detection of bovine tuberculosis in cattle, but little is known about the effect of co-infecting agents on the performance of these diagnostic tests. This report describes a field trial conducted in a cattle herd with dual infection (bovine tuberculosis and paratuberculosis) during 3.5 years. It has been based on a strategic approach encompassing serial parallel testing (comparative IDTB test, the IFN-$\gamma$ assay and serology of paratuberculosis) that was repeated 8 times over the period, and segregation of animals into two herds. The IDTB test detected 65.2% and the IFN-$\gamma$ test detected 69.6% of the Mycobacterium bovis culture-positive cattle. However, the IDTB test performed better during the first part of the trial, while the IFN-$\gamma$ test was the only method that detected infected animals during the following three samplings. The number of false positive reactors with the IDTB and/or the IFN-$\gamma$ tests was remarkably high compared to other reports, and could be caused by cross-reactivity with M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis. Also, the M. bovis isolates from cattle and wildlife from the same property were characterised using molecular techniques to disclose an epidemiological link. The IDTB test may not be appropriate to eradicate bovine tuberculosis in herds with dual mycobacterial infections. This report highlights the need to use several diagnostic techniques for the accurate detection of M. bovis infected animals in these herds.


Key words: tuberculosis / paratuberculosis / IDTB / IFN-$\gamma$ / eradication

Corresponding author: Alicia Aranaz alaranaz@vet.ucm.es

© INRA, EDP Sciences 2006


What is OpenURL?

The OpenURL standard is a protocol for transmission of metadata describing the resource that you wish to access. An OpenURL link contains article metadata and directs it to the OpenURL server of your choice. The OpenURL server can provide access to the resource and also offer complementary services (specific search engine, export of references...). The OpenURL link can be generated by different means.
  • If your librarian has set up your subscription with an OpenURL resolver, OpenURL links appear automatically on the abstract pages.
  • You can define your own OpenURL resolver with your EDPS Account. In this case your choice will be given priority over that of your library.
  • You can use an add-on for your browser (Firefox or I.E.) to display OpenURL links on a page (see http://www.openly.com/openurlref/). You should disable this module if you wish to use the OpenURL server that you or your library have defined.

In 2011, Veterinary Research will move to BioMed Central www.veterinaryresearch.org

During the 10 years of cooperation with the editorial team, EDP Sciences has brought the journal to an international level: the Impact Factor has risen from 1.49 in 2001 to 3.579 in 2010. The journal has maximum visibility among the community, as Veterinary Research now ranks 1st in the Veterinary Sciences ISI category.