Bovine tuberculosis of cattle in three districts of northwestern Ethiopia.

The prevalence of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) infection in cattle was investigated in extensive and intensive production systems in three districts of northwestern Ethiopia. Single comparative intradermal tuberculin test (SCIDTT) was used in the study. The prevalence of BTB infection as determined by SCIDTT was 9.7% whereas the non-specific infection prevalence was 10.8%. In the extensive system the prevalence was 8.2% and 11.3%; under intensive system the prevalence was 22.1% and 6.3% for BTB and non-specific infections respectively. The prevalence of BTB was significantly higher in the intensive than extensive production systems. Of the 75 herds tested 41 (54.7%) had BTB infections, 68.9% of the BTB positive herds were in the extensive system and 40% of herds in the intensive systems (small dairy farms) had BTB infections.