Effect of gastro-intestinal parasitosis on tuberculin test for the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis

A Study was conducted on hundred-one heifers aging 1.5 to 2.5 years to dete rmine the effect of infection with different gastro-intestinal parasites na mely, fasciola, paramphistomum, schistosome, strongyle and coccidia on the immune response to tuberculin test. De-wormed heifers reacted to tuberculin injection significantly differently (P<0.05) than non de-wormed ones. Sign ificantly (P<0.05) higher immune response to tuberculin injection. was obse rved when animal was negative than when it was positive for fasciola or str ongyle only. This preliminary work warrants further investigation on the im portance of de-worming animals before conducting tuberculin test for the di agnosis of bovine tuberculosis.