In most cases, infection can only be detected using a diagnostic test. The performance of the currently available tests varies as the infection progresses. As animals progress towards clinical disease the performance of all the tests improves. In practical terms this means that one herd screen will be inadequate to identify all infected cattle. Similarly one clear herd screen does not necessarily mean that infection is not present. Therefore, in all control programmes, testing must be repeated over a number of years to maximise the likelihood of correctly defining the herd’s infection status.
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