Animal disease detection using a new rapid method for monitoring antigen-induced lymphocyte stimulation, October 1, 1978-September 30, 1979

Lymphocyte proliferation in response to bovine tubercular antigen was measured on blood samples from a herd naturally infected with TB. Determination of single-cell DNA content as a measure of cell proliferation was done by flow cytometry after staining with the DNA-specific stain, propidium iodide. Results of the field testing showed good agreement with other methods for TB detection. Significant progress on the development of a new method for TB detection was made. An increase in the rate of amino acid uptake can be measured within 14 h after treatments of lymphocytes from TB-positive animals with TB antigen. The enhancement does not occur after similar treatment of lymphocytes from TB-negative animals. Ways for optimizing the new test and investigations into other new diagnostic techniques are reported.