PATHOLOGY AND TUBERCULIN SENSITIVITY IN CATTLE INOCULATED WITH MYCOBACTERIUM AVIUM COMPLEX SEROTYPES 6, 14 AND 18

Abstract
Three strains of M. avium complex organisms, serotypes 6, 14 and 18 isiolated from typical tuberculous lesions in cattle were examined for pathogenicity and ability to sensitize cattle to avian and bovine tuberculin. Each strain caused tuberculoid granulomas at the site of s.c. inoculation but no lesions elsewhere. Sensitization to bovine tuberculin was detected in the caudal fold test in 11 of 18 inoculated animals 8 wk after injection. In a simultaneous comparative cervical test, reactions to avian tuberculin were much larger than reactions to bovine tuberculin in all inoculated animals.