What is the official tuberculin test for captive cervids?

• A. Comparative cervical test
• B. Single cervical test
• C. Caudal fold test
• D. Dual Path Platform VetTB Assay

Answer: (B)

Testing for tuberculosis in captive cervids is done with an intradermal tuberculin skin test. The version used for these species is the single cervical test, which administers bovine tuberculin at one site on the neck and is read after a standardized interval. This single-site approach has been validated specifically for deer and elk and is the basis of TB surveillance programs for captive cervids because it provides a straightforward, consistent method that aligns with official monitoring practices. The alternative two-site comparative cervical test uses both bovine and avian tuberculin to help differentiate infections from environmental mycobacterial exposure, but it is not the standard official method for captive cervids. The caudal fold test is a cattle-focused method applied to the tail area, and the serologic Dual Path Platform VetTB assay is a blood test, not a tuberculin skin test.