Determination of sensitivity and specificity of the Nocardia asteroides skin test for detection of bovine mammary infections caused by Nocardia asteroides and Nocardia caviae.
A total of 116 cows from 4 dairy herds in California were used to determine the sensitivity and specificity of extracellular antigen of Nocardia astero des for possible detection of bovine mastitis caused by N asteroides and N caviae. Three different positive criteria were used. These criteria gave different sensitivity and specificity to the skin test. The highest sensitivity of 80% and highest specificity of 96.04% were obtained by combining 2 criteria. The study found no cross-reaction between N asteroides antigen and Mycobacterium fortuitum or N asteroides and tuberculin skin tests. There was cross-reaction between N asteroides antigen and N caviae infection.
D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D002417:Cattle; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D008414:Mastitis, Bovine / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009617:Nocardia Infections / Q000662:veterinary*; D009616:Nocardia asteroides / Q000276:immunology; D009170:Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests; D014374:Tuberculin Test / Q000662:veterinary
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000939:Epitopes