Abstract
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are rapid and simple means for the differentiation of members of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, especially Mycobacterium bovis and M. tuberculosis, where it is important to distinguish between zoonotic sources (cattle and unpasteurized dairy products) and human sources of tubercle disease. This study is aimed to evaluate the recent technique such as PCR and (BACTEC MGIT 960 (TM) system) for diagnosis of M. tuberculosis complex among cattle in Egypt. 1180 cattle were examined during the period of 2008 to 2010 by single intradermal tuberculin test. 29 animals (2.46%) were positive reactors, the results of isolation and identification using conventional culture method Lowenstein-Jensen medium were 22 mycobacterial isolates (75.9%), 20 (68.97%) M. bovis and 2 (6.9%) unidentified slow grower}. The recovery rate of BACTEC MGIT 960 (TM) system was 82.8%, while in case of Lowenstein-Jensen medium was 75.9%. The mean time for detection of Mycobacterium was 17.8 +/- 0.9 days and 46.5 +/- 0.4 days for BACTEC MGIT 960 (TM) system and Lowenstein-Jensen medium, respectively. While the contamination rate with BACTEC MGIT 960 (TM) system was 6.9 and 10.3% in Lowenstein-Jensen medium. PCR technique in the present study could differentiates between M. bovis and M. tuberculosis within few h rather than the long period required for the biochemical identification tests. Therefore, the use of PCR in the diagnosis of Mycobacterium in clinical samples is as rapid, more reliable, sensitive and specific techniques and can be used for large scale screening of Mycobacterium in areas where the disease is still a public health hazard as in Egypt.