Tuberculosis 



Bovine tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious, infectious, communicable disease of 

 animals and humans caused by Mycobacterium bovis. It is commonly a chronic, 

 debilitating disease but occasionally may assume an acute, rapidly progressive course. 

 TB is a widespread zoonosis of global magnitude and affects nearly all species of 

 vertebrates. Disease is spread by direct contact, inhalation of droplets expelled 

 from infected lungs, and ingestion of contaminated feed or milk. All accredited 

 veterinarians must report suspected or diagnosed bovine TB promptly to State or 

 Federal animal health authorities. 



Testing 



Diagnosing TB in live animals depends on using an effective testing technique with 

 an intradermal injection of tuberculin obtained through your State animal health 

 official or APHIS-VS Area Office. Several varieties of tuberculin are produced. 

 However, use only bovine purified protein derivative tuberculin (PPD bovis) licensed 

 by USDA for official testing. See table I for tuberculin test requirements for different 

 species of animals. 



Table 1 — Tuberculin test information for various animal species 



Species 



Dose and type 



Site 



Read test visually 

 and palpate 



Cattle & Bison 



0.1 mL PPD bovis 



Caudal fold 



72 h ± 6 h 



Horses 



Not reliable 







Sheep & Goats 



0.1 mL PPD bovis 



Caudal fold 



72 h 



Swine 



0.1 mL PPD bovis 



Bases of each ear or 

 vulvar lips 



48 h 



Poultry 



0.05 mL PPD avian 



Wattle 



48 h 



Exotic Bovidae (antelope) 



0.1 mL PPD bovis 



Midcervical 



72 h 



Deer, elk (and other Cervidae) 



0.1 mL PPD bovis 



Midcervical 



72 h 



Camelidae 



0.1 mL PPD bovis 



Postaxillary Region 



72 h 



Note: TB testing and test result interpretation for many exotic species (such as some zoo animals) 

 are not yet developed or reliable. For interstate movement of these animals, contact the State 

 animal health official in the State of destination for the TB-testing requirements (if any) for 

 these species. 



Because the tuberculin test is based on an immune response, the animal being 

 tested should not concurrently be receiving other medications, vaccinations, or 

 anthelminthic drugs. These agents may temporarily affect the immune system 

 and influence the result of the tuberculin test. In addition, avoid tail-bleeding 

 for other diagnostic procedures (e.g., brucellosis, lohne's disease) at the time of 



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