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Published on: July 11, 2015
Antigen-Specific IP-10 Release Is a Sensitive Biomarker of Mycobacterium bovis Infection in Cattle
Sven D C Parsons1, Kevina McGill2, Mairead B Doyle2
1DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research/SAMRC Centre for Tuberculosis Research/Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
Insights
Measuring the cytokine IP-10 in cattle blood shows promise for detecting Mycobacterium bovis infection. This new biomarker offers improved sensitivity and specificity for tuberculosis diagnosis in cattle.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Immunology
- Infectious Disease Diagnostics
- Bovine Tuberculosis Research
Background:
- Current ante-mortem tuberculosis diagnostics in cattle, including skin tests and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) assays, have limitations in accurately identifying all infected animals.
- Previous studies indicated that measuring the cytokine IP-10 in antigen-stimulated blood could enhance the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis infections in humans and African buffaloes, respectively.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the potential of IP-10 as a diagnostic biomarker for Mycobacterium bovis infection in cattle.
- To compare the diagnostic performance of IP-10 measurement with existing IFN-γ assays in cattle.
Main Methods:
- Sixty cattle, classified as tuberculosis reactors or non-reactors via the single intradermal comparative tuberculin test, were included in the study.
- Antigen-stimulated whole blood samples were analyzed for the release of IFN-γ and IP-10 using bovine-specific ELISAs.
- Differential IP-10 release in response to Mycobacterium bovis purified protein derivative (PPD) and Mycobacterium avium PPD was measured.
Main Results:
- A strong correlation was observed between IP-10 and IFN-γ production in the tested cattle samples.
- Measurement of differential IP-10 release successfully distinguished between reactor and non-reactor cattle.
- The IP-10 assay demonstrated high diagnostic performance with 100% sensitivity and 97% specificity for M. bovis infection.
Conclusions:
- IP-10 shows significant potential as a valuable diagnostic biomarker for Mycobacterium bovis infection in cattle.
- The IP-10 assay offers improved sensitivity and specificity compared to current diagnostic methods.
- Further research may validate IP-10 as a key component in bovine tuberculosis diagnostics.
Abstract:
The most widely used ante-mortem diagnostic tests for tuberculosis in cattle are the tuberculin skin test and the interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) release assay, both of which measure cell-mediated immune responses to Mycobacterium bovis infection. However, limitations in the performance of these tests results in a failure to identify all infected animals. In attempting to increase the range of diagnostic tests for tuberculosis, measurement of the cytokine IP-10 in antigen-stimulated blood has previously been shown to improve the detection of M. tuberculosis and M. bovis infection, in humans and African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer), respectively. In the present study, 60 cattle were identified by the single intradermal comparative tuberculin test as tuberculosis reactors (n = 24) or non-reactors (n = 36) and the release of IFN-γ and IP-10 in antigen-stimulated whole blood from these animals was measured using bovine specific ELISAs. There was a strong correlation between IP-10 and IFN-γ production in these samples. Moreover, measurement of the differential release of IP-10 in response to stimulation with M. bovis purified protein derivative (PPD) and M. avium PPD distinguished between reactor and non-reactor cattle with a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI, 86%-100%) and a specificity of 97% (95% CI, 85%-100%). These results suggest that IP-10 might prove valuable as a diagnostic biomarker of M. bovis infection in cattle.
