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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #169427
Title: ANTIGEN RECOGNITION IN WHITE-TAILED DEER EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED WITH MYCOBACTERIUM BOVIS

Author
item LYASCHENKO, K - CHEMBIO
item GREEENWALD, R - CHEMBIO
item ESFANDIARI, J - CHEMBIO
item Pollock, Jessica
item ANDERSEN, P - COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
item Palmer, Mitchell
item Waters, Wade

Submitted to: Veterinary Immunology International Symposium
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2004
Publication Date: 7/25/2004
Citation: Lyaschenko, K., Greeenwald, R., Esfandiari, J., Pollock, J.J., Andersen, P., Palmer, M.V., Waters, W.R. 2004. Antigen recognition in white-tailed deer experimentally infected with mycobacterium bovis [abstract]. Veterinary Immunology International Symposium. Paper No. WK.11.6.7:369.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) have recently emerged as wildlife reservoirs of Mycobacterium bovis infection of cattle in Northern America. To improve control of bovine tuberculosis new diagnostics for M. bovis infection in white-tailed deer are therefore needed. The goal of the present study was to characterize the humoral immune responses in deer experimentally infected with M. bovis. Animals were infected with various doses of M. bovis either by aerosol, or intratonsilarly, or by exposure to already infected deer. Serum samples were sequentially collected during up to 10 months post-infection. Antibodies were detected in serum samples by MAPIA (MultiAntigen Print ImmunoAssay) using a panel of 12 native and recombinant antigens of M. bovis. We found that 3 of 6 animals in the low-dose aerosol-infected group produced antibodies to one or more recombinant proteins. Positive correlation was observed between the humoral immune responses and pathology developed in the infected deer. In fact, animals with most advanced disease demonstrated the strongest MAPIA reactions involving the greatest number of antigens. Further, only 1 out of 3 seronegative deer in this group showed signs of disease. In the high-dose intratonsilar infection group, 10 out of 11 animals developed specific IgG antibodies against one or more recombinant antigens (all 11 reacted with M. bovis culture filtrates). The humoral responses were boosted significantly one month after intradermal tuberculin skin testing. All 'in-contact' infected deer (8/8) produced antibody responses against multiple antigens. Importantly, the magnitude of these responses was comparable to that of animals inoculated with M. bovis. Patterns of antigen recognition varied from animal to animal in each group, although similar patterns could be found in deer infected by different routes. Protein MPB83 appeared to be the most immunodominat serological target in the experimental M. bovis infection. However, additional seroreactive antigens might be required for developing a sensitive serodiagnostic test for deer tuberculosis