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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #60474
Title: COMPARISON OF SKIN TESTING AND THE GAMMA-INTERFERON ASSAY FOR DIAGNOSIS OF BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS

Author
item Whipple, Diana

Submitted to: International Symposium on Bovine Tuberculosis in Animals and Humans
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/11/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The primary test used by most countries for diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis is the intradermal skin test. An in vitro cellular assay, based on detection of gamma-interferon produced by lymphocytes stimulated with antigens of Mycobacterium bovis, was recently developed in Australia. Studies to compare the sensitivity and specificity of these tests have been nconducted in several countries including Australia, Ireland, and the Unite States. Sensitivity and specificity values for the skin test range from 65.6% to 95% and 96% to 98.8%, respectively. Likewise, sensitivity and specificity estimates of the gamma-interferon assay range from 55.4% to 93.6% and 86% to 98.1%, respectively.