COMPARAÇÃO DE TRÊS TESTES DE TUBERCULINA USADOS PARA O DIAGNÓSTICO DE TUBERCULOSE EM BÚFALOS DE ÁGUA NA ILHA DE MARAJÓ

The state of Para corresponds to 26% of the Brazilian Amazon Region and contains a herd of buffaloes that represent around 45% of the buffalo population in Brazil. This herd is located especially in the Marajo Island. The aim of this study was to compare three different types of tuberculin skin tests used for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) and compare the results with infected and uninfected animals by tuberculosis. The results of this study allows to the following conclusions: The single cervical test in buffaloes is not recommended due to the low specificity, producing a large margin of error (sacrifice of false positive animals); the double intradermal tuberculin test has a low specificity and the inconvenience of applying twice tuberculin, therefore is necessary three visits in the farm, raising the costs. The comparative cervical testis is the best method, because it has high specificity and sensitivity, and the reactions of tuberculin in buffaloes are characterized by a high number of nonspecific reactions, due mainly to the buffalo aquatic habit.