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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 46 (2008), pp. 1498-1500. Validation of the BrockTB STAT-PAK Assay for Detection of Tuberculosis in Eurasian Badgers (Meles meles) and Influence of Disease Severity on Diagnostic Accuracy. M. Chambers, et.al.
EDITORIAL: By Les Stutzman
The prevalence of bovine TB (bTB) in UK cattle continues to remain an issue resulting in substantial economic losses to both the government and the farming communities most affected. A known reservoir of infection throughout Great Britain and Ireland is the Eurasian badger (Meles meles). In trying to simplify the detection and provide an animal side convenient, easy-to-use, quick, whole blood assay Chembio Diagnostic Systems (CDS) developed for the British governing organizations responsible for eradication of bTB throughout Great Britain a lateral flow immunoassay called BrockTB STAT-PAK® Assay.
This study demonstrates that Chembio’s BrockTB STAT-PAK Assay is best able to detect infected badgers with a more severe case of TB. These particular animals are believed to pose the greatest risk to other badgers and domestic livestock since they generally are at a progressive disease state wherein they are excreting Mycobacterium bovis.These so called “super-excretors” were detected at a sensitivity level of 78.1% with a CI of between 60.0 to 90.7%.
Until Chembio’s BrockTB STAT-PAK Assay was commercially available the only test options for screening badgers for TB were the VLA Brock Test (an ELISA technique) and gamma interferon (IFN-γ). However both approaches suffer in that they require specialized laboratory facilities and equipment to perform, are not amenable to a trap-test-cull field test approach and require 3-48 hours to obtain results. Whereas, the BrockTB STAT-PAK assay can be performed anywhere and produces a result in 20 minutes or less!
The consensus at VLA (UK) is to use BrockTB STAT-PAK as a field test to screen for all the “super excretors” and thus reduce the prevalence rate of bovine TB in badgers by eliminating those animals most apt to spread the infection. |
