Detection of mycobacteria, including M-bovis, from bovine tissues and environmental samples

Germany has been officially free of tuberculosis since 1 January 1997, beca use of its acknowledged epidemiological status. The intradermal testing of cattle, which were previously carried out annually, is no longer required. The remaining means of surveillance involves the detection of suspect tuber culous lesions in lymph nodes and organs at postmortem inspection, followed by epidemiological investigations of the herd of origin. Because conventio nal bacteriological detection and ultimate generic identification of mycoba cteria take some two months, the diagnostic value of genprobe was examined. The mycobacterium-tuberculosis-complex-direct-DNA-probe-test was found to be suitable for the detection of M. bovis in bovine lymph nodes, with resul ts becoming available within one day. All positive cultures of M. bovis wer e confirmed by gentest.