Towards improved differential diagnostics of bovine tuberculosis in the Republic of Dagestan

Introduction. Non-specific tuberculin reactions are among the most critical challenges in tuberculosis diagnosis, with their incidence increasing annually. Given the complex epidemiological challenges, improving bovine tuberculosis diagnostics is critically important.

Objective. Development of effective comprehensive differential bovine tuberculosis diagnosis and introduction of improved techniques for the infection detection in farms with different animal health statuses in the Republic of Dagestan.

Materials and methods. 1,670 cattle were subjected to tuberculin testing; 3,502 serum samples were used for serological testing, 112 samples for immunological testing, 57 samples of pathological material collected from animals and 76 environmental samples were used for bacteriological testing. Mycobacterium bovis, Mycobacterium bovis BCG, Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium scrofulaceum strains were used in the study.

Results. Nonspecific reactions in the farms of all categories were found to be widespread in the Republic. Diagnostic value of intradermal and intravenous tuberculin tests in tuberculosis-infected herds was determined (9.4% of extra-detected diseased animals). Complement fixation test is poorly sensitive and highly specific. © Баратов М. О., 2025

Indirect haemagglutination assay results are not confirmed by conventional methods in most cases, which suggests their low specificity. 39 mycobacterial isolates were recovered from 57 biological samples and identified: 8 (20.5%) as M. bovis; 31 (79.5%) as non-tuberculous mycobacteria (acid-fast species), among them 29 (93.5%) were identified as Runyon II organisms, 2 (6.5%) as Runyon III organisms. 43 isolates out of 76 environmental samples were recovered: among them 2 (4.6%) were identified as Mycobacterium bovis, 23 (53.5%) as Runyon II organisms and 18 (41.9%) as Runyon III organisms. Among culture media, Löwenstein- Jensen’s egg-based medium provides the best growth performance and most effective suppression of competing microflora.

Conclusion. The obtained data provide a fundamental basis for developing an effective comprehensive method for differential diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis. 

1. Baratov M. O., Sakidibirov O. P., Akhmedov M. M. Epizooticheskie osobennosti tuberkuleza krupnogo rogatogo skota = Epizootic peculiarities of bovine tuberculosis. Ekologicheskie problemy sel’skogo khozyaistva i nauchno­ prakticheskie puti ikh resheniya: sbornik nauchnykh trudov Mezhdu narodnoi nauchno­prakticheskoi konferentsii (Makhachkala, 5–6 iyunya 2017 g.) = Environmental issues in agriculture and scientific and practical solutions: proceedings of the International Scientific and Practical Conference (Makhachkala, June 5–6, 2017). Makhachkala: Dagestan State Agrarian University; 2017; 102–108. https://elibrary.ru/zgksmn (in Russ.)

2. Baratov M. O. Improvement of bovine tuberculosis diagnosis. Veterinary Science Today. 2020; (4): 261–265. https://doi.org/10.29326/2304196X-2020-4-35-261-265

3. Baratov M. O., Sakidibirov O. P. Cattle tuberculosis in Dagestan Republic: problems and prospects. Veterinariya. 2021; (1): 24–28. https://doi.org/10.30896/0042-4846.2021.24.1.24-28 (in Russ.)

4. Nuratinov R. A., Gazimagomedov M. G. Tuberculosis. Makhachkala: Planeta-Dagestan; 2009. 336 p. (in Russ.)

5. Gulyukin M. I., Naymanov A. Kh., Ovdienko N. P., Vedernikov V. A., Verkh ovsky O. A., Tolstenko N. G., et al. Methodical instructions for conducting studies in animal mycobacteriosis. Moscow: All-Russian Research Institute of Experimental Vеterinary. 2012. 85 p. (in Russ.)

6. Donchenko A. S., Ovdienko N. P., Donchenko N. A. Diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis. Novosibirsk: Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences; 2004. 308 p. (in Russ.)

7. Naimanov A. Kh., Ovdienko N. P., Pomykanov N. P. Diagnostika tuberkuleza krupnogo rogatogo skota v individual’nykh khozyaistvakh = Bovine tuberculosis diagnosis on individual farms. Aktual’nye problemy infektsionnoi patologii i immunologii zhivotnykh: materialy konferentsii (Moskva, 16–17 maya 2006 g.) = Topical issues of animal infectious pathology and immunology: proceedings of the conference (Moscow, 16–17 May 2006). Moscow: Izograf; 2006; 297–302. https://elibrary.ru/vyftgj (in Russ.)

8. Kamalieva Yu. R. Retrospective analysis of frequency of the occurrence of non-specific reactions to tuberculin in cattle in the Republic of Tatarstan. Molodezhnye razrabotki i innovatsii v reshenii prioritetnykh zadach APK: materialy Mezhdunarodnoy nauchnoy konferentsii = Young scientists’ development and innovations to solve priority agrarian tasks: Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference. Vol. 1. Kazan: Kazan State Academy of Veterinary Medicine; 2020; 278–280. https://elibrary.ru/vwhcco (in Russ.)

9. Baratov M. O., Huseynova P. S. More on search for causes of sensitization to tuberculin PPD for mammals in cattle. Veterinary Science Today. 2021; 10 (4): 271–276. https://doi.org/10.29326/2304-196X-2021-10-4-271-276

10. Dorozhko V. P. Specific stimulation during serological diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis: Author’s abstract of thesis for degree of Cand. Sci. (Veterinary Medicine). Kyiv; 1971. 20 p. (in Russ.)

11. Mukovnin A. A., Naimanov A. H., Gulukin A. M. Bovine tuberculosis in the Russian Federation. Veterinariya. 2020; (7): 19–24. https://doi.org/10.30896/0042-4846.2020.23.7.19-24 (in Russ.)

12. Mingaleev D. N. Novel tools and methods of bovine tuberculosis prevention in young animals: Author’s abstract of thesis for degree of Dr. Sci. (Veterinary Medicine). Kazan’; 2018. 42 p. (in Russ.)

13. Ionina S. V., Donchenko N. A., Donchenko A. S. The relationship between the circulation of atypical mycobacteria in the environment with the manifestation of tuberculin reactions in selskohozaystvennih. Innovations and Food Safety. 2016; (1): 41–44. https://doi.org/10.31677/2311-06512016-0-1-41-44 (in Russ.)

14. Bokova T. V. Frequency of non-specific reactions to PPD tuberculin in BLV infected cattle, and development of leucosis eradication programmes for breeding herds in the Altay Krai: Author’s abstract of thesis for degree of Cand. Sci. (Veterinary Medicine). Barnaul; 2001. 27 p. (in Russ.)

15. Azuma I., Ajisaka M., Yamamura Y. Polysaccharides of Mycobacterium bovis Ushi 10, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Mycobacterium phlei, and atypical Mycobacterium P1. Infection and Immunity. 1970; 2 (3): 347–349. https://doi.org/10.1128/iai.2.3.347-349.1970

16. Harriff M. J., Cansler M. E., Toren K. G., Canfield E. T., Kwak S., Gold M. C., Lewinsohn D. M. Human lung epithelial cells contain Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a late endosomal vacuole and are efficiently recognized by CD8+ T cells. PLoS ONE. 2014; 9 (5):e97515. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0097515

17. Monin L., Griffiths K. L., Slight S., Lin Y., Rangel-Moreno J., Khader S. A. Immune requirements for protective Th17 recall responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis challenge. Mucosal Immunology. 2015; 8 (5): 1099–1109. https://doi.org/10.1038/mi.2014.136

18. Vlasenko V. S. Optimization of immunity control and correction methods during bovine tuberculosis and leucosis: Author’s abstract of thesis for degree of Dr. Sci. (Biology). Kazan; 2011. 43 p. (in Russ.)

19. Protodyakonova G. P. Epizootological and epidemiological peculiarities of tuberculosis in Yakutia, improvement of diagnosis and prevention methods: Author’s abstract of thesis for degree of Dr. Sci. (Veterinary Medicine). Novosibirsk; 2015. 35 p. (in Russ.)

20. Carneiro P. A. M., de Moura Sousa E., Viana R. B., Monteiro B. M., Do Socorro Lima Kzam A., de Souza D. C., et al. Study on supplemental test to improve the detection of bovine tuberculosis in individual animals and herds. BMC Veterinary Research. 2021; 17:137. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-021-02839-4

21. Khairullah A. R., Moses I. B., Kusala M. K. J., Tyasningsih W., Ayuti S. R., Rantam F. A., et al. Unveiling insights into bovine tuberculosis: a comprehensive review. Open Veterinary Journal. 2024; 14 (6): 1330–1344. https://doi.org/10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i6.2

22. Petrov R. V., Khaitov R. M. The bases of immunity and immune biotechnology. Annals of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. 2000; (11): 18–21. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11186283 (in Russ.)

23. Tizard I. R. Veterinary Immunology: An Introduction. 6th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders; 2000. 482 p.

24. Ramos D. F., Silva P. E., Dellagostin O. A. Diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis: review of main techniques. Brazilian Journal of Biology. 2015; 75 (4): 830–837. https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.23613

25. Barksdale L., Kim K. S. Mycobacterium. Bacteriological Reviews. 1977; 41 (1): 217–372. https://doi.org/10.1128/br.41.1.217-372.1977

26. Radchenkov V. P., Sokolovskaya I. I. Rosetting lymphocytes of cattle and rational methods for their detection. Agricultural Biology. 1983; (12): 87–91. (in Russ.)

27. Dzhupina S. I. Fundamental’nye znaniya epizooticheskogo protsessa – osnova kontrolya tuberkuleza krupnogo rogatogo skota = Fundamental knowledge of the epidemic process – the basis of bovine tuberculosis control. Russian Journal of Veterinary Pathology. 2004; (1–2): 45–47. https://elibrary.ru/hsowdp (in Russ.)