WSU vet develops new cattle tuberculosis test
Washington Ag Today October 14, 2009 Dr. William Davis, professor in WSU’s Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology department, together with science and industry colleagues has developed an antibody-based test for bovine tuberculosis (bTB). The new test may one day replace the current skin and gamma interferon tissue culture tests. Currently there is no effective treatment for bTB, so early diagnosis is critical. This new test can detect the disease faster and with great accuracy. Early detection allows sick animals to be removed from the herd more quickly, reducing the spread of the disease. There is an effort underway to license the new test in the U.S. The National Agricultural Statistics Service is doing a long range planning project. David Knopf, who heads up the Washington state field office of NASS, explains that part of the process includes soliciting input. Knopf: “We are soliciting input from any farmer, farm organization, agribusiness that would like to comment on our programs. So we are interested in hearing from the people who provide the data and use the data, to make sure that they are receiving the kinds of information that are important to them in order to be successful business.” Knopf is getting input from commodity groups and ag organizations himself but says any individual user of the agency’s data is welcome to comment. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Northwest Ag Information Network.
