ARS | Publication request: RAPID TEST FOR SEROLOGICAL DETECTION OF TUBERCULOSIS IN MULTIPLE ANIMAL SPECIES

Submitted to: Wildlife Disease Association Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 20, 2004
Publication Date: December 20, 2004
Citation: Lyashchenko, K., Greenwald, R., Esfandiari, J., Waters, W.R., Palmer, M.V., Whipple, D.L., Olsen, J., Ball, R., Pollock, J., Andersen, P. 2004. Rapid Test for Serological Detection of Tuberculosis in Multiple Animal Species [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Wildlife Disease Association. 6th European Conference of the Wildlife Disease Association, December 20-23, 2004, Uppsala, Sweden. 2004 CDROM.

Technical Abstract: Tuberculosis remains a serious re-emerging disease in wildlife and zoo animals, as various species are susceptible to Mycobacterium bovis and/or M. tuberculosis. To improve tuberculosis control, new diagnostic tools that would be rapid, accurate, and host species-independent are needed. We propose novel serological methods, MAPIA (MultiAntigen Print ImmunoAssay) and the lateral-flow technology, for specific antibody detection in tuberculosis. The humoral immune responses against multiple proteins during either experimental or natural infection were characterized by MAPIA in several animal species including white-tailed deer, elephant, and gazelle. The results demonstrated the remarkable heterogeneity of antigen recognition during disease in various species. Positive associations between antibody responses and the degree of pathological change due to tuberculosis infection were detected. Serological markers of diagnostic importance were identified for each host. Elephant antibody kinetics data suggested that the MAPIA could be used for monitoring treatment in these animals. Using selected antigens, a lateral-flow test was developed for rapid antibody detection in multiple species. The test can use serum, plasma, or whole blood and provides results within 15 minutes. Advantages of the proposed serological approach for tuberculosis detection in multiple animal species will be presented.