Tuberculosis outbreak in a dromedary racing herd and rapid serological detection of infected camels

A recent outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) in a dromedary racing herd of 58 animals involved 3 infected animals. Disease was confirmed at necropsy by finding gross lesions from which Mycobacterium bovis (antelope type) was isolated. Sera collected from the camels in this herd were used to evaluate two new serological methods, Multiantigen Print Immunoassay (MAPIA) and rapid test (RT) developed using the lateral-flow technology, in comparison with the intradermal tuberculin tests. Antibodies were found in all three infected dromedaries by both RT and MAPIA, but not in the remaining 55 animals in the herd. With the limited number of animals tested in this study, the serological assays showed the potential for convenient, rapid, and accurate diagnosis of TB in live camels.