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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #191524
Title: EARLY ANTIBODY RESPONSES TO EXPERIMENTAL MYCOBACTERIUM BOVIS INFECTION OF CATTLE

Author
item Waters, Wade
item Palmer, Mitchell
item Thacker, Tyler
item Bannantine, John
item VORDERMEIER, H - VLA, WEYBRIDGE, UK
item HEWINSON, R - VET LAB AGENCY, UK
item GREENWALD, R - CHEMBIO DIAGNOSTIC SYS.
item ESFANDIARI, J - CHEMBIO DIAGNOSTIC SYS.
item MCNAIR, J - VET. SC. DIV. BELFAST
item POLLOCK, J - VET. SC. DIV. BELFAST

Submitted to: Clinical and Vaccine Immunology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/27/2006
Publication Date: 6/1/2006
Citation: Waters, W.R., Palmer, M.V., Thacker, T.C., Bannantine, J.P., Vordermeier, H.M., Hewinson, R.G., Greenwald, R., Esfandiari, J., Mcnair, J., Pollock, J.M. 2006. Early Antibody Responses to Experimental Mycobacterium bovis Infection of Cattle. Clinical and Vaccine Immunology. 13(6):648-654.

Interpretive Summary: Cattle are routinely tested for tuberculosis by tuberculin skin testing as outlined in the USDA uniform methods and rules for the eradication of bovine tuberculosis in the United States. However, more convenient and specific tests are greatly needed. In the present study, it was determined that cattle experimentally infected with tuberculosis produce antibodies to the bacterium and that these antibodies are detectable by relatively simple laboratory methods. Since this technology is easily transferred to diagnostic laboratories, serological assays may prove practical for use in surveillance of tuberculosis infection in cattle. These methods should prove useful for the tuberculosis eradication program.

Technical Abstract: Bovine tuberculosis persists as a costly zoonotic disease in numerous countries despite extensive eradication and control efforts. Sequential serum samples obtained from Mycobacterium bovis infected cattle were evaluated for seroreactivity to mycobacterial antigens. Animals received M. bovis either by aerosol, intratonsil, intranasal, or intratracheal inoculation. Assays included the multi-antigen print immunoassay for determination of antigen recognition patterns, immunoblot for sensitive kinetic studies, and VetTB STAT-PAK™ test – a lateral flow, rapid test. Responses to MPB83 were detected for all M. bovis-infected animals, regardless of the route or strain of M. bovis used for inoculation. Other less commonly recognized antigens included ESAT-6, CFP-10, and MPB70. Responses to MPB83 were detectable as early as 4 wks after inoculation, were boosted upon injection of PPD’s for skin testing, and persisted throughout the course of each of the 4 challenge studies. MPB83-specific IgM was detected prior to that of IgG; however, these early IgM responses rapidly waned demonstrating a benefit of tests that detect both IgM- and IgG-specific antibody. The VetTB STAT-PAK™ test detected responses in sera from 60% (15/25) of the animals by 7 wks after challenge and 96% (24/25) by 18 wks. These findings demonstrate the potential for antibody-based tests in the early detection of M. bovis infection in cattle.