Diagnostic test for Bovine Tuberculosis Ab (BTB Ab)

Bovine Tuberculosis is caused by a slow-growing aerobic bacterium Mycobacterium bovis. Bovine TB usually affects animals such as cattle, but it can affect practically all mammals causing a general state of illness, coughing and eventual death. The usual route of infection is by inhaling infected droplets which are expelled from the lungs by coughing. Calves and humans can also become infected by ingesting raw milk from infected cows. Clinical signs include: weakness, loss of appetite, weight-loss, fever, strong cough, diarrhea and enlarged lymph nodes.
The standard control measure applied to TB is test and slaughter.