Masters Thesis
Diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) in asymptomatic goats is a big challenge towards control of the disease in mixed herds. This is because not all of the available diagnostic methods in cattle are easily applicable and capable of detecting the disease in goats. In this study, two BTB diagnostic tests commonly used in cattle were employed to diagnose BTB in goats. The study established the potency and effiency of conventional comparative intraderma test (CIT) over interferon (IFN)-γ test. Goats (n= 71) and 10 cattle used in this study, were from mixed herds randomly selected from urban and periurban of Morogoro municipality. Blood sample for IFN-γ test was collected from each animal, which was immediately followed by intradermal injection of Bovine Purified Protein Derivative (PPD-Bovine) and Avian Purified Protein Derivative (PPD-Avian) 12 cm apart after proper shaving of middle third of the neck on right side. The blood samples were collected from jugular vein and investigated at the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) laboratory. After 72 hours, CIT results were obtained by re-measure of the same skin fold. Results showed that CIT isolated 5 reactors while IFN-γ isolated 9 reactors from the sample size. Comparative intradermal test results proved to have no significant better potency and efficiency over the IFN-γ test (P<0.05; 95% confidence interval). Results from both tests were confirmed with pathological lesions observed in two sacrified goats. It is concluded that CIT has no peculiar potency and efficiency in diagnosis of BTB in asymptomatic goats. Therefore, IFN-γ test could be a sound option in diagnosis of BTB in carrier asymptomatic goats in a mixed herds and thus aid in a long run, the control of the disease.
Southren Africa Development Community –Transboundary Animal Diseases (SADC-TADs)