Non-pulmonary tuberculosis caused by the bovine type of tubercle bacillus in children in Eire

Abstract

1. The types of strains of tubercle bacilli isolated from fifty cases of non-pulmonary tuberculosis in children, 0–14 years of age, in Eire have been determined. In cervical gland disease ten (71·4%) out of fourteen strains were bovine, in bone and joint disease four (18·2%) out of twenty-two were bovine and in meningitis three (25%) out of twelve were bovine. Only two cases of primary abdominal tuberculosis were examined. Both yielded human strains.2. The difficulties in assessing the true significance of the results recorded are briefly discussed.3. The technique used and some bacteriological observations made are described.