RT Journal Article T1 Evaluation of the sensitivity and specificity of bovine tuberculosis diagnostic tests in naturally infected cattle herds using a Bayesian approach A1 Álvarez Sánchez, Julio A1 Perez, Andrés A1 Bezos Garrido, Javier A1 Marqués, Sergio A1 Grau, Anna A1 Saez, Jose Luis A1 Mínguez, Olga A1 Juan Ferré, Lucía De A1 Domínguez Rodríguez, Lucas José AB Test-and-slaughter strategies have been the basis of bovine tuberculosis (BT) eradication programs worldwide; however, eradication efforts have not succeeded in certain regions, and imperfect sensitivity and specificity of applied diagnostic techniques have been deemed as one of the possible causes for such failure. Evaluation of tuberculosis diagnostic tools has been impaired by the lack of an adequate gold standard to define positive and negative individuals. Here, a Bayesian approach was formulated to estimate for the first time sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of the tests [single intradermal tuberculin (SIT) test, and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) assay] currently used in Spain. Field data from the first implementation of IFN-γ assay (used in parallel with SIT test 2-6months after a first disclosure SIT test) in infected beef, dairy and bullfighting cattle herds from the region of Castilla and Leon were used for the analysis. Model results suggested that in the described situation: (i) Se of SIT test was highly variable (40.1-92.2% for severe interpretation, median=66-69%), and its Sp was high (>99%) regardless interpretation criteria; (ii) IFN-γ assay showed a high Se (median=89-90% and 83.5% for 0.05 and 0.1 cut-off points respectively) and an acceptable Sp (85.7% and 90.3% for 0.05 and 0.1 thresholds) and (iii) parallel application of both tests maximized the combined Se (95.6% using severe SIT and 0.05 cut-off point in the IFN-γ assay). These results support the potential use of the IFN-γ assay as an ancillary technique for routine BT diagnosis. PB Elsevier SN 0378-1135 YR 2012 FD 2012-02-24 LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/93439 UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/93439 LA eng NO Alvarez, J., Perez, A., Bezos, J., Marqués, S., Grau, A., Saez, J. L., Mínguez, O., de Juan, L., & Domínguez, L. (2012). Evaluation of the sensitivity and specificity of bovine tuberculosis diagnostic tests in naturally infected cattle herds using a Bayesian approach. Veterinary microbiology, 155(1), 38–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2011.07.034 NO 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Financiación: Funded by European Project 212414 ‘‘Strategies for the eradication of bovine tuberculosis (TBSTEP)’’. Julio Alvarez is the recipient of a post-doctoral grant of the University of Castilla la Mancha (UCLM). NO European Union. European Project 212414 ‘‘Strategies for the eradication of bovine tuberculosis (TBSTEP)’ NO Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha DS Docta Complutense RD 4 ago 2024