EN
The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in the Kayseri province in Turkey and to compare histopathology and direct microscope examinations, culture and BACTEC radiometric methods. The lungs and bronchial and mediastinal lymph nodes, collected from 3216 cattle slaughtered at 5 slaughterhouses belonging to both the public and private sector, were examined from September 2003 to August 2004. In macroscopic examinations lesions were noted in 248 (7.7%) of the cattle. In histopathology examinations caseous tuberculosis was observed in 57% of the lungs, in 57% of the bronchial and in 53% of the mediastinal lymph nodes. In direct microscopy, acid-fast bacilli were seen in 33% of the lungs, in 33% of the bronchial and in 28% of the mediastinal lymph nodes. In culture, Mycobacterium bovis was isolated in 19% of the lungs, 19% of the bronchial and in 17% of the mediastinal lymph nodes. In the BACTEC method, Mycobacterium spp. was isolated in 21% of the lungs, in 21% of the bronchial and in 17% of the mediastinal lymph nodes. In conclusion, the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in slaughtered cattle in Kayseri province is 1.49%, and the BACTEC radiometric method is a rapid and sensitive method for diagnosing M. bovis.