Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Application of Long-term cultured Interferon-γ Enzyme-linked Immunospot Assay for Assessing Effector and Memory T Cell Responses in Cattle
15:57

Application of Long-term cultured Interferon-γ Enzyme-linked Immunospot Assay for Assessing Effector and Memory T Cell Responses in Cattle

Published on: July 11, 2015

A field evaluation of serological and cellular diagnostic tests for bovine tuberculosis

P R Wood1, L A Corner, J S Rothel

  • 1CSIRO, Division of Animal Health, Parkville, Vic. Australia.

Veterinary Microbiology
|April 1, 1992
PubMed

Insights

The interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) assay shows high accuracy for diagnosing bovine tuberculosis in cattle. This cell-mediated reactivity test is more effective than serological tests or the traditional tuberculin test for herd screening.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary immunology
  • Infectious disease diagnostics
  • Mycobacterium bovis research

Background:

  • Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) poses a significant threat to cattle health and global food security.
  • Accurate diagnostic tools are crucial for controlling and eradicating BTB.
  • Current diagnostic methods have limitations in sensitivity and specificity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the field performance of a serological test and a novel in vitro assay for cell-mediated reactivity for BTB diagnosis.
  • To compare the diagnostic accuracy of these assays against the single intradermal tuberculin test.

Main Methods:

  • Field evaluation of an ELISA using Mycobacterium bovis-specific antigen (MPB-70) for serological response.
  • Assessment of an interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) assay measuring cell-mediated reactivity.
  • Comparison of results with the single intradermal tuberculin test.

Main Results:

  • The MPB-70 ELISA showed 96.4% specificity and 18.1% sensitivity.
  • The IFN-gamma assay demonstrated superior performance with 81.8% sensitivity and 99.1% specificity.
  • The single intradermal tuberculin test yielded 68.1% sensitivity and 96.7% specificity.
  • Using MPB-70 in the IFN-gamma assay decreased sensitivity without improving specificity.

Conclusions:

  • The IFN-gamma assay is a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic tool for bovine tuberculosis.
  • This assay is practical for large-scale cattle population screening.
  • The IFN-gamma assay offers improved diagnostic accuracy over serological tests and the traditional tuberculin test for BTB control programs.

More Related Videos

Determination of Vaccine Immunogenicity Using Bovine Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells12:54

Determination of Vaccine Immunogenicity Using Bovine Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells

Published on: May 19, 2023

Micro-Colony Forming Unit Assay for Efficacy Evaluation of Vaccines Against Tuberculosis06:26

Micro-Colony Forming Unit Assay for Efficacy Evaluation of Vaccines Against Tuberculosis

Published on: July 28, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Pulmonary Tuberculosis III01:31

Pulmonary Tuberculosis III

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious infection primarily affecting the lung parenchyma but which can also affect other body parts. TB can be classified based on disease development, presentation, and the affected anatomical site.
The first classification is based on the development of the disease, and it includes the following categories:
Pulmonary Tuberculosis IV01:26

Pulmonary Tuberculosis IV

Tuberculosis, more commonly referred to as TB, is an infectious disease stemming from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While it primarily impacts the lungs, TB can also affect other body areas. Given its severity and global impact, timely and accurate diagnosis is crucial for controlling its spread and improving patient outcomes.
Several diagnostic approaches are used to detect TB. The conventional method is the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST), also known as the Mantoux test. However, this method has...