A New Experimental Infection Model in Ferrets Based on Aerosolised<i>Mycobacterium bovis</i>

McCallan, Lyanne; Corbett, David; Andersen, Peter; Aagaard, Claus; McMurray, David N.; Barry, Claire; Thompson, Suzan; Strain, S.; McNair, J.

doi:10.4061/2011/981410

Cited by 13 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…As mustelids related to badgers, they offer some advantages as a model animal species in that they are available from licensed suppliers, and are relatively easy to house and maintain in captivity. Experimental infection models have been established where M. bovis was delivered to captive ferrets by the oral or aerosol route ( 35 , 87 ). In both models, infection was found in the thoracic cavity and also in the mesenteric lymph nodes.…”

Section: Experimental Infection Models For Domestic Species and Wild mentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathogenesis of Mycobacterium bovis Infection: the Badger Model As a Paradigm for Understanding Tuberculosis in Animals

Gormley

Corner

2018

Front. Vet. Sci.

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Tuberculosis in animals is caused principally by infection with Mycobacterium bovis and the potential for transmission of infection to humans is often the fundamental driver for surveillance of disease in livestock and wild animals. However, with such a vast array of species susceptible to infection, it is often extremely difficult to gain a detailed understanding of the pathogenesis of infection--a key component of the epidemiology in all affected species. This is important because the development of disease control strategies in animals is determined chiefly by an understanding of the epidemiology of the disease. The most revealing data from which to formulate theories on pathogenesis are that observed in susceptible hosts infected by natural transmission. These data are gathered from detailed studies of the distribution of gross and histological lesions, and the presence and distribution of infection as determined by highly sensitive bacteriology procedures. The information can also be used to establish the baseline for evaluating experimental model systems. The European badger (Meles meles) is one of a very small number of wild animal hosts where detailed knowledge of the pathogenesis of M. bovis infection has been generated from observations in natural-infected animals. By drawing parallels from other animal species, an experimental badger infection model has also been established where infection of the lower respiratory tract mimics infection and the disease observed in natural-infected badgers. This has facilitated the development of diagnostic tests and testing of vaccines that have the potential to control the disease in badgers. In this review, we highlight the fundamental principles of how detailed knowledge of pathogenesis can be used to evaluate specific intervention strategies, and how the badger model may be a paradigm for understanding pathogenesis of tuberculosis in any affected wild animal species.

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Section: Experimental Infection Models For Domestic Species and Wild mentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathogenesis of Mycobacterium bovis Infection: the Badger Model As a Paradigm for Understanding Tuberculosis in Animals

Gormley

Corner

2018

Front. Vet. Sci.

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“…However, irrespective of bacterial dose or whether the infection was artificial or natural, several ferrets were found to have M. tuberculosis bacilli in the mediastinal lymph nodes and/or in their feces. McCallan et al (2011) and Gallagher and Clifton-Hadley (2000) reported similar results in ferrets and badgers, respectively, in the mediastinal lymph nodes and feces after aerosol-infection with M. bovis. In those experiments, exposure initiated by inhalation of M. bovis bacilli can establish infection in the lungs with subsequent spread by hematogenous dissemination to distal lymph nodes and visceral organs (McCallan et al, 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 55%

“…Though the ferret is not significantly more expensive than the rodent models and supplies are sufficient, the model has limitations, including the need for special caging and animal handling procedures, and the need for more immunological reagents. Pertinent to this study, the ferret has been shown to be susceptible to infection with a number of mycobacterial species including M. bovis ( McCallan et al., 2011 ; Byrom et al., 2015 ), M. celatum ( Piseddu et al., 2011 ), M. genavense ( De Lorenzi et al., 2018 ), M. avium ( Bezos et al., 2016 ), and other non-tuberculous mycobacteria ( Pollock, 2012 ). Ferrets are evolutionarily related to other members of the carnivorous mammal (Mustelidae) family, including the European badger and New Zealand possum; these related species contribute to transmission of M. bovis to cattle and other large animals and potentially to humans in Great Britain, New Zealand, and elsewhere ( Allen et al., 2018 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Ferrets as a model for tuberculosis transmission

Gupta

Somanna

Rowe

et al. 2022

Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol.

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Even with the COVID-19 pandemic, tuberculosis remains a leading cause of human death due to a single infectious agent. Until successfully treated, infected individuals may continue to transmit Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli to contacts. As with other respiratory pathogens, such as SARS-CoV-2, modeling the process of person-to-person transmission will inform efforts to develop vaccines and therapies that specifically impede disease transmission. The ferret (Mustela furo), a relatively inexpensive, small animal has been successfully employed to model transmissibility, pathogenicity, and tropism of influenza and other respiratory disease agents. Ferrets can become naturally infected with Mycobacterium bovis and are closely related to badgers, well known in Great Britain and elsewhere as a natural transmission vehicle for bovine tuberculosis. Herein, we report results of a study demonstrating that within 7 weeks of intratracheal infection with a high dose (>5 x 103 CFU) of M. tuberculosis bacilli, ferrets develop clinical signs and pathological features similar to acute disease reported in larger animals, and ferrets infected with very-high doses (>5 x 104 CFU) develop severe signs within two to four weeks, with loss of body weight as high as 30%. Natural transmission of this pathogen was also examined. Acutely-infected ferrets transmitted M. tuberculosis bacilli to co-housed naïve sentinels; most of the sentinels tested positive for M. tuberculosis in nasal washes, while several developed variable disease symptomologies similar to those reported for humans exposed to an active tuberculosis patient in a closed setting. Transmission was more efficient when the transmitting animal had a well-established acute infection. The findings support further assessment of this model system for tuberculosis transmission including the testing of prevention measures and vaccine efficacy.

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“…6,[46][47][48] Experimental infections with M bovis occasionally involve liver. 49 Characteristic granulomatous lesions have been observed in affected liver tissue. 47 Mycobacteriosis remains a major differential to consider with hepatic abscess in ferrets.…”

Section: Bacterial Diseasementioning

confidence: 99%

Diagnosis of Liver Disease in Domestic Ferrets (Mustela Putorius)

Huynh

Laloi

2013

Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Animal Practice

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Liver disease in ferrets is often subclinical and underdiagnosed. Clinical pathology and diagnostic imaging are needed to guide clinicians but definite diagnosis is based on histopathologic lesions. Inflammatory digestive conditions can lead to ascending tract infection and hepatobiliary inflammation. Ferrets have a specific sensitivity to hepatic lipidosis. Incidence of hepatic neoplasia is high in ferrets. After a summary of anatomy and physiology of the ferret liver, hepatic diseases known in ferret species are reviewed with their subsequent diagnostic procedures.

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A New Experimental Infection Model in Ferrets Based on AerosolisedMycobacterium bovis

Cited by 13 publications

References 26 publications

Pathogenesis of Mycobacterium bovis Infection: the Badger Model As a Paradigm for Understanding Tuberculosis in Animals

Pathogenesis of Mycobacterium bovis Infection: the Badger Model As a Paradigm for Understanding Tuberculosis in Animals

Ferrets as a model for tuberculosis transmission

Diagnosis of Liver Disease in Domestic Ferrets (Mustela Putorius)

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