Diagnostic reagents

摘要

There is provided a skin test diagnostic reagent comprising at least one CFP-10 epitope polypeptide, at least one ESAT-6 epitope polypeptide and at least one Rv3615c epitope polypeptide, the reagent eliciting a positive result when administered in a skin test to an animal infected with Mycobacterium bovis or Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The reagent is useful in that it can be used in a method to determine whether an animal is infected with Mycobacterium bovis or Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

主权项

1. A method for detecting Mycobacterium bovis or Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in an animal comprising the steps of:
(a) selecting an administration site on the skin of an animal; (b) measuring the skin induration at the site to determine skin thickness; (c) interdermally administering at the administration site a skin test diagnostic reagent comprising at least one CFP-10 epitope polypeptide, at least one ESAT-6 epitope polypeptide and at least one Rv3615c epitope polypeptide, characterised in that the reagent elicits a positive result at the administration site when administered in a skin test to an animal infected with Mycobacterium bovis or Mycobacterium tuberculosis; (d) measuring the skin induration at the administration site 72 hours after completion of step (c) to determine skin thickness, optionally also at 96 hours and 120 hours after completion of step (c); (e) determining the difference in skin thickness between the measurements from steps (b) and (d); (f) wherein an animal showing increased skin thickness in step (d) compared to step (b) is identified as being infected with Mycobacterium bovis or Mycobacterium tuberculosis.