Approach to TB

Question 1

What is TB caused by?

Answer 1

• Mycobacterium bovis

Question 2

What is human TB caused by?

Answer 2

• Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Question 3

Does TB cause sudden death?

Answer 3

• no, never sudden

Question 4

Does the TB skin test have high or low specificity?

Answer 4

• high

Question 5

Does the TB skin test have high or low sensitivity?

Answer 5

• low

Question 6

If a test is more sensitive, is there less false negatives or positives?

Answer 6

• negatives

Question 7

If a test is more specific, is there less false negatives or positives?

Answer 7

• positives

Question 8

Where is TB prevalent in the UK?

Answer 8

• Midlands
• NI
• Hotspots in Wales
• SW England

Question 9

What classes as a reactor on the skin test?

Answer 9

• If reacted (positive)
• Inconclusive twice in a row

Question 10

How can you avoid false negatives in terms of intra-dermal injection?

Answer 10

• Move further up the neck

Question 10

Why does moving up the neck reduce false negatives?

Answer 10

• skin is more sensitive

Question 11

What are the two injections made up from?

Answer 11

• Mycobacterium avium
• Mycobacterium bovis

Question 12

When do you return to assess results of TB test?

Answer 12

• 72h later

Question 13

What is the five-point plan to avoid TB?

Answer 13

• Restrict contact between badgers and cattle
• Manage and maintain cleanliness
• Stop infected cattle from entering the herd
• Reduce risk from neighbouring herds
• Minimise infection from cattle manure

Question 14

How can farms avoid contact with nearby farms?

Answer 14

• double fencing
• don’t spread anyone else’s slurry

Question 15

Where is the majority of wildlife contact with cattle coming from?

Answer 15

• feed
• water
• faeces
• never direct contact

Question 16

Does GAMMA testing improve the specificity or sensitivity of TB testing when used with the skin test?

Answer 16

• Sensitivity