“Spotting” Mycobacterium bovis infection in leopards (Panthera pardus) – novel application of diagnostic tools
BackgroundMycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) is the causative agent of animal tuberculosis (TB) which poses a threat to many of South Africa’s most iconic wildlife species, including leopards (Panthera pardus). Due to limited tests for wildlife, the development of accurate ante-mortem tests for TB diagn...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Immunology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1216262/full |
| _version_ | 1797729187860054016 |
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| author | Rachiel Gumbo Wynand J. Goosen Peter E. Buss Lin-Mari de Klerk-Lorist Konstantin Lyashchenko Robin M. Warren Paul D. van Helden Michele A. Miller Tanya J. Kerr |
| author_facet | Rachiel Gumbo Wynand J. Goosen Peter E. Buss Lin-Mari de Klerk-Lorist Konstantin Lyashchenko Robin M. Warren Paul D. van Helden Michele A. Miller Tanya J. Kerr |
| author_sort | Rachiel Gumbo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundMycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) is the causative agent of animal tuberculosis (TB) which poses a threat to many of South Africa’s most iconic wildlife species, including leopards (Panthera pardus). Due to limited tests for wildlife, the development of accurate ante-mortem tests for TB diagnosis in African big cat populations is urgently required. The aim of this study was to evaluate currently available immunological assays for their ability to detect M. bovis infection in leopards.MethodsLeopard whole blood (n=19) was stimulated using the QuantiFERON Gold Plus In-Tube System (QFT) to evaluate cytokine gene expression and protein production, along with serological assays. The GeneXpert® MTB/RIF Ultra (GXU®) qPCR assay, mycobacterial culture, and speciation by genomic regions of difference PCR, was used to confirm M. bovis infection in leopards.ResultsMycobacterium bovis infection was confirmed in six leopards and individuals that were tuberculin skin test (TST) negative were used for comparison. The GXU® assay was positive using all available tissue homogenates (n=5) from M. bovis culture positive animals. Mycobacterium bovis culture-confirmed leopards had greater antigen-specific responses, in the QFT interferon gamma release assay, CXCL9 and CXCL10 gene expression assays, compared to TST-negative individuals. One M. bovis culture-confirmed leopard had detectable antibodies using the DPP® Vet TB assay.ConclusionPreliminary results demonstrated that immunoassays and TST may be potential tools to identify M. bovis-infected leopards. The GXU® assay provided rapid direct detection of infected leopards. Further studies should aim to improve TB diagnosis in wild felids, which will facilitate disease surveillance and screening. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T11:26:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b98d29895a884592883acb9bf2436bb7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-3224 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T11:26:33Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Immunology |
| spelling | doaj.art-b98d29895a884592883acb9bf2436bb72023-09-01T08:54:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242023-09-011410.3389/fimmu.2023.12162621216262“Spotting” Mycobacterium bovis infection in leopards (Panthera pardus) – novel application of diagnostic toolsRachiel Gumbo0Wynand J. Goosen1Peter E. Buss2Lin-Mari de Klerk-Lorist3Konstantin Lyashchenko4Robin M. Warren5Paul D. van Helden6Michele A. Miller7Tanya J. Kerr8DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, SAMRC Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South AfricaDSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, SAMRC Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South AfricaSouth African National Parks, Veterinary Wildlife Services, Kruger National Park, Skukuza, South AfricaSkukuza State Veterinary Office, Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Skukuza, South AfricaChembio Diagnostic Systems, Inc., Medford, New York, NY, United StatesDSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, SAMRC Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South AfricaDSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, SAMRC Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South AfricaDSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, SAMRC Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South AfricaDSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, SAMRC Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South AfricaBackgroundMycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) is the causative agent of animal tuberculosis (TB) which poses a threat to many of South Africa’s most iconic wildlife species, including leopards (Panthera pardus). Due to limited tests for wildlife, the development of accurate ante-mortem tests for TB diagnosis in African big cat populations is urgently required. The aim of this study was to evaluate currently available immunological assays for their ability to detect M. bovis infection in leopards.MethodsLeopard whole blood (n=19) was stimulated using the QuantiFERON Gold Plus In-Tube System (QFT) to evaluate cytokine gene expression and protein production, along with serological assays. The GeneXpert® MTB/RIF Ultra (GXU®) qPCR assay, mycobacterial culture, and speciation by genomic regions of difference PCR, was used to confirm M. bovis infection in leopards.ResultsMycobacterium bovis infection was confirmed in six leopards and individuals that were tuberculin skin test (TST) negative were used for comparison. The GXU® assay was positive using all available tissue homogenates (n=5) from M. bovis culture positive animals. Mycobacterium bovis culture-confirmed leopards had greater antigen-specific responses, in the QFT interferon gamma release assay, CXCL9 and CXCL10 gene expression assays, compared to TST-negative individuals. One M. bovis culture-confirmed leopard had detectable antibodies using the DPP® Vet TB assay.ConclusionPreliminary results demonstrated that immunoassays and TST may be potential tools to identify M. bovis-infected leopards. The GXU® assay provided rapid direct detection of infected leopards. Further studies should aim to improve TB diagnosis in wild felids, which will facilitate disease surveillance and screening.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1216262/fullDPP® Vet TB assaygene expression assayGeneXpert® MTB/RIF Ultra qPCR assayinterferon-gamma release assayleopardMycobacterium bovis |
| spellingShingle | Rachiel Gumbo Wynand J. Goosen Peter E. Buss Lin-Mari de Klerk-Lorist Konstantin Lyashchenko Robin M. Warren Paul D. van Helden Michele A. Miller Tanya J. Kerr “Spotting” Mycobacterium bovis infection in leopards (Panthera pardus) – novel application of diagnostic tools Frontiers in Immunology DPP® Vet TB assay gene expression assay GeneXpert® MTB/RIF Ultra qPCR assay interferon-gamma release assay leopard Mycobacterium bovis |
| title | “Spotting” Mycobacterium bovis infection in leopards (Panthera pardus) – novel application of diagnostic tools |
| title_full | “Spotting” Mycobacterium bovis infection in leopards (Panthera pardus) – novel application of diagnostic tools |
| title_fullStr | “Spotting” Mycobacterium bovis infection in leopards (Panthera pardus) – novel application of diagnostic tools |
| title_full_unstemmed | “Spotting” Mycobacterium bovis infection in leopards (Panthera pardus) – novel application of diagnostic tools |
| title_short | “Spotting” Mycobacterium bovis infection in leopards (Panthera pardus) – novel application of diagnostic tools |
| title_sort | spotting mycobacterium bovis infection in leopards panthera pardus novel application of diagnostic tools |
| topic | DPP® Vet TB assay gene expression assay GeneXpert® MTB/RIF Ultra qPCR assay interferon-gamma release assay leopard Mycobacterium bovis |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1216262/full |
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