Changes

Incidence of the disease has increased over the past 15 years; it is prevalent in '''Wales''' and the '''southwest''' of England but is re-emerging in other parts of the UK such as the west Midlands and northwest England.

Incidence of the disease has increased over the past 15 years; it is prevalent in '''Wales''' and the '''southwest''' of England but is re-emerging in other parts of the UK such as the west Midlands and northwest England.

Most warm blooded animals are susceptible to bovine TB and can act as a resevoir for infection. The disease in cattle has been associated with wildlife species in a number of countries; the European badger and red deer in the UK, opossums and ferrets in New zealand, mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, and bison in North America and water buffalo in Australia.  

Most warm-blooded animals are susceptible to bovine TB and can act as a reservoir for infection. The disease in cattle has been associated with wildlife species in a number of countries; the European badger and red deer in the UK, opossums and ferrets in New Zealand, mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, and bison in North America and water buffalo in Australia.  

      

      

==Diagnosis==

==Diagnosis==

The intradermal comparative tuberculin test is widely used in the UK for diagnosis of the disease. Two injections are give subcutaneously in the neck of cattle, one is '''avian''' and the second '''bovine''' '''tuberculin purified protein derivative''' (PPD. The thickness of the skin is recorded at each injection site. The test is read after '''72 hours''', and the thickness of the skin is remeasured. Interpretation is based on finding a swelling or increase in skin thinkness at the site of the injection. A comparison must be made between the reaction to avian and the bovine tuberculin to account for cross reactivity with related diseases, such as atypical mycobacteriosis, or paratuberculosis- Johne's disease.  

The intradermal comparative tuberculin test is widely used in the UK for diagnosis of the disease. Two injections are given subcutaneously in the neck of cattle, one is '''avian''' and the second '''bovine''' '''tuberculin purified protein derivative''' (PPD. The thickness of the skin is recorded at each injection site. The test is read after '''72 hours''', and the thickness of the skin is remeasured. Interpretation is based on finding a swelling or increase in skin thinkness at the site of the injection. A comparison must be made between the reaction to avian and the bovine tuberculin to account for cross reactivity with related diseases, such as atypical mycobacteriosis, or [[Johne's Disease|Johne's disease]].

 

A single intradermal test is used in many countries but has the disadvantage of giving reactors to avian tuberculosis and Johne's disease.

 

===Clinical Signs===

===Clinical Signs===

Location and severity depend on which body systems are affected and the advancement of the disease. Due to the tesing and slaughter policy most cases in the UK are idenified before development of clinical signs.  

Location and severity depend on which body systems are affected and the advancement of the disease. Due to the testing and slaughter policy most cases in the UK are identified before development of clinical signs.  

 

* Chronic cough- soft and productive

* Chronic cough- soft and productive=

* Tachypnoea  

* Tachypnoea  

* Dyspnoea

* Dyspnoea

* Dull areas on auscultation of the lungs in advanced cases

* Dull areas on auscultation of the lungs in advanced cases

====Alimentary form===

====Alimentary form====

* Few clinical signs=

* Few clinical signs

* Diarrhoea

* Diarrhoea

* Bloat

* Bloat

If the mycobacteria disseminated from the primary complex then lymph nodes in other regions will also be affected and there will be multiple small foci of infection on other organs.  

If the mycobacteria disseminated from the primary complex then lymph nodes in other regions will also be affected and there will be multiple small foci of infection on other organs.  

   

   

 

==Treatment==

==Treatment==

Treatment is not usually an option due to the chronic nature of the disease, zoonotic potential and test and slaughter policy.  

Treatment is not usually an option due to the chronic nature of the disease, zoonotic potential and test and slaughter policy.  

Poor.

Poor.

==References==

==References==