Application of Tuberculin screening tests for determination the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in Basra governorate /Iraq

This study was intended to identify the prevalence of bovine Tuberculosis (TB) in Basra governorate/ Iraq. About 694 random samples were collected from cows and Mudhar A. S. Abu Tabeekh Basra Veterinary Hospital, Basra, Iraq buffaloes that reared in Basra city center, Abu Alkhasib, Shat Alarab, Al Fao, Safwan, Al Qurna, Al Mdainah, Imam Sadiq, Imam Qaim and Al Zubair / Basra governorate. The study was extended between 14th of August to 11th of September 2014. Comparative intradermal tuberculin test (CITT) was used to determine the morbidity rates of bovine tuberculosis in all animals. Only four animals, from city center district showed suspected results and revealed increased in the thickness of the skin for CITT, while, all other animals were negative. Sixty days later blood samples were collected from elected animals by non-bias methods and tested by ELISA. The results of ELISA were negative for all samples as well for the suspected samples in the skin test. The efficiency of the CITT and ELISA tests was evaluated for the diagnosis of bovine TB. This study approved that TB screening tests are important in the eradication and control procedures of the bovine TB in Basra governorate because its ability to recognize the infected and suspected animals. The author recommend to apply the field CITT and ELISA laboratory test in the diagnosis and elimination of the infected animals in the bovine herds.