title: Comparative intradermal tuberculin test in dairy cattle in the north of Ecuador and risk factors associated with bovine tuberculosis.
abstract: We studied the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) in Mejia canton, the major dairy cattle production area in northern Ecuador. Twenty dairy herds comprising 2,022 cattle were selected. In 2007, each animal was tested using the comparative intradermal tuberculin test (CITT). In 2008, a follow-up test was performed in the same herds. The true annual incidence was 1.70%, and the true prevalence was 7.41% and 7.13% in 2007 and 2008, respectively. The prevalence was 0.27% and 0.57% in medium-sized herds in 2007 and 2008, respectively, compared with 8.63% and 8.43% in large herds (P < 0.01). The number of skin test-positive cases also increased significantly with age (P = 0.03), contacts with other species of animals (P < 0.01), and introduction of new cattle (P = 0.04). Herd prevalence was 55% in 2007 and 65% in 2008. This study shows the lack of knowledge in cattle farmers about this zoonosis and the necessity for a national BTB control program in Ecuador.
authors.affiliation: International Centre of Zoonosis, Central University of Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador. fproano-ciz@ac.uce.edu.ec
authors.forename: Freddy
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Proaño-Perez
authors.forename: Washington
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Benitez-Ortiz
authors.forename: Maritza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Celi-Erazo
authors.forename: Lenin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ron-Garrido
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benitez-Capistros
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Portaels
authors.forename: Leen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rigouts
authors.forename: Annick
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Linden
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003612:Dairying; D003625:Data Collection; D004484:Ecuador / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D007428:Intradermal Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014374:Tuberculin Test / Q000662:veterinary*; D014380:Tuberculosis, Bovine / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*