Mycobacterium Bovis Culture and PCR Testing for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM)

Description

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is responsible for the Irish bovine tuberculosis (TB) eradication programme, which seeks to eradicate infection with Mycobacterium bovis from the Irish cattle population. Lymph nodes from animals suspected of being infected with Mycobacterium bovis can be tested for its presence, and isolates of Mycobacterium bovis can be cultured, with these isolates then available for further molecular analysis. Molecular analysis of Mycobacterium bovis isolates is increasingly important in informing epidemiological investigations into TB outbreaks in cattle herds, and this requires an increase in testing and culture of lymph nodes from animals suspected of being infected, in order to provide isolates for further analysis. Currently, such testing and culture is carried out in the DAFM Central Veterinary Research Laboratory and in one private laboratory. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine invites tenders from laboratories to carry out laboratory testing to detect and culture isolates of Mycobacterium bovis. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) invites responses to this request for tender from economic operators for the supply of services as described above.