Читать книгу Farm Animal Medicine and Surgery - Graham R Duncanson - Страница 164

This very important zoonotic disease is found throughout the world and is notifiable in the European Union (EU), USA and elsewhere. It primarily affects the respiratory tract and associated lymph nodes. Historically, it was very important when it affected the udder and caused contamination of the milk. The main causative organism is Mycobacterium bovis, but other Mycobacterium spp. are also found. The disease can be spread by other wild mammals, e.g. badgers in the UK and opossums in New Zealand. It is a chronic wasting disease, only causing a cough and respiratory signs in the later stages. Peripheral lymph nodes may be enlarged. The disease is transmitted by the respiratory and ingestion routes. Herd screening is not easy as the standard comparative avian and bovine tuberculin intradermal test, as used in the UK, reveals false positives. The gamma inter-feron blood test is used as a follow-up. There is no treatment and affected animals should be slaughtered as soon as possible.