Serologic responses correlate with current but not future bacterial shedding in badgers naturally infected with Mycobacterium bovis.

Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
Elli R JolmaJ A Drewe

Abstract

Bovine tuberculosis is a challenging cattle disease with substantial economic costs in affected countries. Eradication in parts of the United Kingdom and Ireland is hindered by transmission of the causative agent Mycobacterium bovis between cattle and European badgers (Meles meles). Diagnostic tests in badgers are of limited accuracy but may help us understand and predict disease progression. This study aimed to determine the practical ability of a commercially available serologic test, the Dual Path Platform VetTB assay (DPP), to predict mycobacterial shedding (i.e. infectiousness) and disease progression in badgers, and whether test outcomes were associated with re-capture. Clinical samples collected from 2014 to 2019 from a wild, naturally infected population of badgers in southwest England were tested using mycobacterial culture (from sputum, urine, faeces, abscesses and bite wounds), an interferon-gamma release assay and the DPP assay. Data were analysed at both individual badger and social group levels using generalised linear and cumulative-link mixed models, and linear regression. Only the highest DPP readings [optical density relative light unit (RLU) levels] were associated with mycobacterial shedding [odds ratio (OR)...Continue Reading

References

May 17, 2006·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Jerald B Johnson, Kristian S Omland
Dec 18, 2007·Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology·Sandrine LesellierEamonn Gormley
Dec 12, 2012·Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases·M MaasV P M G Rutten
May 31, 2020·Preventive Veterinary Medicine·Roland T AshfordSandrine Lesellier

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