"Spotting" Mycobacterium bovis infection in leopards (Panthera pardus) - novel application of diagnostic tools.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mycobacterium 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.

Methods

Leopard 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 a

SUBMITTER: Gumbo R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10505734 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature