The pathology of tuberculosis lesions in allergic skin test (PPD tuberculin) positive cows and detection of tuberculosis agents with PCR in milk samples

The aim of this study was to determine tuberculosis (Tb) agents in milk and the pathologic changes in the tissues and organs of 100 PPD Tb-positive cows that were intended for slaughter. Milk samples were taken before slaughtering and PCR analysis was conducted to detect the Tb agent. In postmortem examinations, the lungs, liver, mammary glands, spleen, kidneys, and heart were collected for macroscopic and histopathological examinations. Out of the 100 PPD positive cows, lesions of Tb were observed in 75 cows. In the microscopic examination, Tb was identified in the lungs (51 cases), liver (61 cases), and in both the liver and lungs (37 cases). Although mammary Tb was suspected in 32 cows in macroscopic examinations, in microscopic examinations these cases were evaluated as chronic pyogenic abscesses mastitis. No Tb agents were detected by PCR analysis in milk samples taken from the cows before slaughter. Therefore, periodical milk inspections are suggested for controlling agents in milk. In some of the Tb PPD positive animals (25 cases), no changes were detected; therefore, there is a need to improve tests with higher sensitivity for the antemortem diagnosis of Tb. Moreover, people involved in the livestock sector should be trained about Tb, hygiene rules, and disease-free herds.

Keywords:

Tuberculosis, pathology, cow, PPD PCR, milk,

PDF

___

Cassidy JP. The pathogenesis and pathology of bovine tuberculosis with insights from studies of tuberculosis in humans and laboratory animal models. Vet Microbiol 2006; 112: 151-161.
Pollock JM, MacNair J, Welsh MD, Girvin RM, Kennedy HE, Mackie DP, Neill SD. Immune response in bovine tuberculosis. Tuberculosis 2001; 81: 103-107.
Grange JM, Yates MD. Zoonotic aspects of Mycobacterium bovis infection. Vet Microbiol 1994; 40: 137-151.
Ashford DA, Whitney E, Raghunathan P, Cosivi O. Epidemiology of selected mycobacteria that infect humans and other animals. Rev Sci Tech 2001; 20: 325-337.
Thoen CO, Barletta RG. Pathogenesis of Mycobacterium bovis . In: Thoen CO, Steele JH, Gilsdorf MJ, editors. Mycobacterium bovis Infection in Animals and Humans. 2nd ed. Ames, IA, USA: Blackwell; 2006. pp. 18-33.
Wilsher ML, Rezies RE, Croxson MC. Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA in tissues affected by sarcoidosis. Thorax 1998; 53: 871-874.
Çataloluk O, Karslıgil T, Bayazıt N. Evaluation of polymerase chain reaction amplification method for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex on samples from different sources. Scand J Infect Dis 2003; 35: 329-331.
Kasi H, Ezaki T, Harayama S. Differentiation of phylogenetically related slowly growing mycobacteria by their gyrB sequences. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 2008; 38: 301-308.
Cosivi O, Grange JM, Daborn, CJ, Reviglione MM, Fujikura T, Cousins D, Robinson RA, Huchzermeyer HF, de Kantor I, Meslin FX. Zoonotic tuberculosis due to Mycobacterium bovis in developing countries. Emerg Infect Dis 1998; 4: 59-70.
Thoen CO , Lobue P, Kantor I. The importance of Mycobacterium bovis as a zoonosis. Vet Microbiol 2006; 112): 339-345.
Good M. Bovine tuberculosis eradication in Ireland. Irish Veterinary Journal 2006; 59: 154-162.
Cousins DV. Francis BR, Casey R, Mayberey C. Mycobacterium bovis infection in a goat. Australian Vet J 1993; 70: 262-263.
Sayın Z. Sığır tüberkülozunun farklı metodlar ile karşılaştırılmalı teşhisi. PhD, Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey, 2010.
Inangolet FO, Demelash B, Olaya J, Opuda-Asibo J, Skjeve E. A cross-sectional study of bovine tuberculosis in the transhumant and agro-pastoral cattle herds in the border areas of Katakwi and Morata districts, Uganda. Trop Anim Health Prod 2008; 40: 501-508.
Ramirez-Villaescusa AM, Medley GF, Mason S, Green LE. Hard and individual animal risks associated with bovine tuberculosis skin test positivity in cattle in herds in south west England. Prev Met Med 2009; 92: 188-198.
Pollock EB, Conlan AJK, Mitchell AP, Blackwell R, McKinley TJ, Wood JLN. Age-dependent patterns of tuberculosis in cattle. Veterinary Research 2012; 44: 97.
Ameni G, Aseffa A, Engers H, Young D, Gordon S, Hewinson G, Vordermeier M. High prevalence and increased severity of pathology of bovine tuberculosis in Holsteins compared to zebu breeds under field cattle husbandry in central Ethiopia. Clin Vaccine Immunol 2007; 14: 1356-1361.
Laval G, Ameni G. Prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in zebu cattle under traditional animal husbandry in Boji District of western Ethiopia. Rev Med Vet 2004; 155: 494-499.
Urman HK. Evcil Hayvanların Özel Patolojik Anatomisi. Cilt I. Ankara, Turkey: AÜ Basımevi, 1983 (in Turkish).
Gutiérrez Cancela MM, Marin JFG. Comparison of Ziehl- Neelsen staining and immunohistochemistry for the detection of Mycobacterium bovis and bovine and caprine tuberculosis leions. J Comp Path 1993; 109: 361-370.
Whipple DL, Bolin CA, Miller JM. Distribution of lesions in cattle infected with Mycobacterium bovis . J Vet Diagn Invest 1996; 8: 351-354.
Beytut E. Pathological examinations on the localization of lesions and incidence of tuberculosis in cattle in Kars city and its surrounding. Kafkas Univ Vet Fak Der 2001; 7: 15-25 (article in Turkish with an English abstract).
Palmer MV, Waters WR. Advances in bovine tuberculosis diagnosis and pathogenesis: what policy makers need to know. Vet Microbiol 2006; 112: 181-190.
Ortatatlı M, Çiftçi MK, Tuzcu M. Pathologic investigations on tuberculosis and other granulomatous pneumonia in cattle. Eurasian J Vet Sci 1998; 14: 139-150 (article in Turkish with an English abstract).
Luke D. Tuberculosis in the horse, pig, sheep and goat. Vet Rec 1958; 70: 529-536.
McKay WM. A clinical study of bovine tuberculosis in Banffshire. The pathological lesions, part 2. Br Vet J 1959; 115: 370-377.
Diker F. Bursa yöresinde çeşitli ırk sığırlarda görülen tüberküloz lezyonlarının organlara dağılışı ve histolojik yapıları. Pendik Hayv Has Mer Araş Ens Der 1989: 78-94.
Ridley MJ, Marianayagam Y, Spector WG. Experimental granulomas induced by mycobacterial immune complexes in rats. J Pathol 1982; 136: 59-72.
Fedoseev VS, RubtsovaI N, Kirilenko NG, Baigazanov AN, Musin A ZH. L-transformation of mycobacteria. Veterinariya 1985; 12: 30-32.
Aydın FE, Ülger M, Emekdaş G, Aslan G, Günal S. Mersin ilinde çiğ sütlerden resistant Mycobacterium bovis ve Tüberküloz dışı mikobakterilerin tanımlanması ve izolasyonu. Mikrobiyol Bul 2012; 46: 283-289.