Issue |
Vet. Res.
Volume 41, Number 2, March–April 2010
|
|
---|---|---|
Number of page(s) | 12 | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/vetres/2009062 | |
Published online | 20 October 2009 | |
How to cite this article | Vet. Res. (2010) 41:14 |
DOI: 10.1051/vetres/2009062
Repeat tuberculin skin testing leads to desensitisation in naturally infected tuberculous cattle which is associated with elevated interleukin-10 and decreased interleukin-1 beta responses
Michael Coad, Derek Clifford, Shelley G. Rhodes, R. Glyn Hewinson, H. Martin Vordermeier and Adam O. WhelanTB Research Group, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, United Kingdom
Received 12 August 2009; accepted 16 October 2009; published online 20 October 2009
Abstract - The principal surveillance tool used to control bovine
tuberculosis in cattle is the removal of
animals that provide a positive response to the tuberculin skin-test. In
this study we performed a
longitudinal investigation of the immunological and diagnostic consequences
of repeated short-interval
skin-tests in cattle naturally infected with Mycobacterium bovis. Tuberculin
skin-test positive cattle were
subjected to up to four further intradermal comparative cervical skin-tests
at approximately 60-day intervals.
A significant progressive reduction in the strength of the skin-test was
observed after successive tests. In
contrast, the magnitude of interferon- (IFN-
) responses was not influenced
by repeat skin-testing either
transiently around the time of each skin-test or longitudinally following
repeated tests. A significant boost in
blood interleukin-10 (IL-10) production was observed within 3 days following
each skin-test although the
magnitude of this boosted response returned to lower levels by day 10
post-test. The application of a novel
multiplex assay to simultaneously measure seven cytokines and chemokines
also identified that skin-testing
resulted in a significant and progressive reduction in antigen specific
interleukin-1
(IL-1
) whilst
confirming stable IFN-
and elevated IL-10 responses in the blood.
Therefore, we have demonstrated that in
cattle naturally infected with M. bovis, repeat short-interval skin-testing
can lead to a progressive reduction
in skin-test responsiveness which has potential negative consequences for
the detection of infected animals
with marginal or inconclusive skin-test responses. The desensitising effect
is associated with decreased
IL-1
and elevated IL-10 responses, but importantly, does not influence
antigen specific IFN-
responses.
Key words: bovine tuberculosis / skin-testing / gamma-interferon / interleukin-10 / interleukin-1

Corresponding author: m.coad@vla.defra.gsi.gov.uk
© INRA, EDP Sciences 2009