Seroprevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex in Free-Ranging African Elephants (Loxodonta africana) in Kruger National Park, South Africa

Kerr, Tanya J.; Waal, Candice R. de; Buss, Peter; Hofmeyr, Jennifer; Lyashchenko, Konstantin P.; Miller, Michele A.

doi:10.7589/2018-12-292

Cited by 15 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Therefore, extrapolation from literature on TB in other species and multi-host systems may aid in understanding the epidemiology of MTBC in African rhinoceros populations. Demographic risk factors for MTBC infection, such as sex and age, have been described in humans, mice, cattle, and limited species of wildlife ( 48 , 49 , 73 – 82 ). Results from these studies may inform hypotheses regarding demographic patterns of MTBC infection in rhinoceros.…”

Section: Assessment Of Infection Risk In African Rhinocerosmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In various wildlife species, studies have shown a higher frequency of MTBC infection in males, which could be linked to hormonal differences, but behavioral differences may also play a role. In a cohort of free-ranging African elephants ( Loxodonta africana ) tested in KNP, overall TB seroprevalence was higher in males than in females ( 48 ). Another study reported a higher risk for both bTB infection and disease in male badgers ( Meles meles ) than in females ( 75 ).…”

Section: Assessment Of Infection Risk In African Rhinocerosmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A similar age-related bTB trend has been observed in cattle, with a peak in incidence after 12 months of age ( 80 ). Adult warthogs ( Phacochoerus africanus ) and African elephants (>25 years old) in bTB endemic regions also showed a higher seroprevalence than their younger counterparts ( 48 , 49 ). Increasing age had the greatest effect on TB disease risk in a meerkat population in South Africa ( 94 ).…”

Section: Assessment Of Infection Risk In African Rhinocerosmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Epidemiology of Tuberculosis in Multi-Host Wildlife Systems: Implications for Black (Diceros bicornis) and White (Ceratotherium simum) Rhinoceros

Dwyer

Witte²,

Buss

et al. 2020

Front. Vet. Sci.

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Cases of tuberculosis (TB) resulting from infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) have been recorded in captive white ( Ceratotherium simum ) and black ( Diceros bicornis ) rhinoceros. More recently, cases have been documented in free-ranging populations of both species in bovine tuberculosis (bTB) endemic areas of South Africa. There is limited information on risk factors and transmission patterns for MTBC infections in African rhinoceros, however, extrapolation from literature on MTBC infections in other species and multi-host systems provides a foundation for understanding TB epidemiology in rhinoceros species. Current diagnostic tests include blood-based immunoassays but distinguishing between subclinical and active infections remains challenging due to the lack of diagnostic techniques. In other species, demographic risk factors for MTBC infection include sex and age, where males and adults are generally at higher risk than females and younger individuals. Limited available historical information reflects similar age- and sex-associated patterns for TB in captive black and white rhinoceros, with more reports of MTBC-associated disease in black rhinoceros than in white rhinoceros. The degree of MTBC exposure in susceptible wildlife depends on their level of interaction, either directly with other infected individuals or indirectly through MTBC contaminated environments, which is dependent on the presence and abundance of infected reservoir hosts and the amount of MTBC shed in their excreta. Captive African rhinoceros have shown evidence of MTBC shedding, and although infection levels are low in free-ranging rhinoceros, there is a risk for intraspecies transmission. Free-ranging rhinoceros in bTB endemic areas may be exposed to MTBC from other infected host species, such as the African buffalo ( Syncerus caffer ) and greater kudu ( Tragelaphus strepsiceros ), through shared environmental niches, and resource co-utilization. This review describes current knowledge and information gaps regarding the epidemiology of TB in African rhinoceros.

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Section: Assessment Of Infection Risk In African Rhinocerosmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Assessment Of Infection Risk In African Rhinocerosmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Assessment Of Infection Risk In African Rhinocerosmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Epidemiology of Tuberculosis in Multi-Host Wildlife Systems: Implications for Black (Diceros bicornis) and White (Ceratotherium simum) Rhinoceros

Dwyer

Witte²,

Buss

et al. 2020

Front. Vet. Sci.

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“…Elephants are also susceptible to infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis , the same causative agent as that for human tuberculosis (TB). Around 10% of elephants currently residing in North America have tested positive for TB, with cases also identified in Europe [ 39 , 40 ], Australasia [ 41 ], Africa [ 42 , 43 ], and Asia [ 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 ]. Although active disease can be detected via culturing trunk secretions, it is not possible to diagnose subclinical infection with current methodologies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Serum Health Biomarkers in African and Asian Elephants: Value Ranges and Clinical Values Indicative of the Immune Response

Edwards

Miller

Siegal-Willott

et al. 2020

Animals

Self Cite

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Serum biomarkers indicative of inflammation and disease can provide useful information regarding host immune processes, responses to treatment and prognosis. The aims of this study were to assess the use of commercially available anti-equine reagents for the quantification of cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukins (IL) 2, 6, and 10) in African (Loxodonta africana, n = 125) and Asian (Elephas maximus, n = 104) elephants, and alongside previously validated anti-human reagents for acute-phase proteins (serum amyloid A and haptoglobin), calculate species-specific biomarker value ranges. In addition, we used opportunistically collected samples to investigate the concentrations of each biomarker during identified clinical cases of illness or injury, as a first step to understanding what biomarkers may be useful to managing elephant health. Immune biomarkers were each elevated above the calculated species-specific value ranges in at least one clinical case, but due to variability in both clinical and non-clinical samples, only serum amyloid A was significantly higher in clinical compared to non-clinical paired samples, with tendencies for higher TNF-α and IL-10. We also detected increased secretion of serum amyloid A and all five cytokines following routine vaccination of a single Asian elephant, indicating that these biomarkers can be beneficial for studying normal immune processes as well as pathology. This study indicates that assays developed with commercial reagents can be used to quantify health biomarkers in wildlife species and identifies several that warrant further investigation to elucidate immune responses to various pathologies.

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“…A positive antibody response to bTB specific antigens MPB83 and/or CFP-10/ESAT-6 was observed in four hippopotamuses, including one culture-positive individual screened using the DPP ® Vet TB Assay, resulting in an estimated bTB seroprevalence of 8%. The DPP ® Vet TB Assay is not a host species-specific assay, and several species including African and Asian elephants (Loxodonta africana; Elephas maximus ), African lions (Panthera leo ), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus ) and common warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus ) with cultureconfirmed TB have previously been shown to produce antibody responses to MPB83 and/or CFP-10/ESAT-6 (Greenwald et al ., 2009;Kerr et al ., 2019Kerr et al ., , 2020Lyashchenko et al ., 2006;Miller, Buss, Sylvester, et al ., 2019;Miller et al ., 2016;Roos et al ., 2016). The association between seropositivity and culture-confirmed MTBC infection suggests that rapid antibody assays might be useful as an ante-mortem screening test for M. bovis infection in hippopotamuses.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Implications of Interspecies Transmission and Diagnosis of Mycobacterium bovis Infection in Free-Ranging Common Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)

Kerr¹,

Goosen²,

Gumbo³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Bovine tuberculosis (bTB), caused by Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) infection, is a multi-host disease which negatively affects the wildlife industry, with adverse consequences for conservation, ecotourism, and game/wildlife sales. Although interspecies transmission has been reported between some wildlife hosts, the risk of spread in complex ecosystems is largely unknown. As a controlled disease, tools for accurate detection of M. bovis infection is crucial for effective surveillance and management, especially in wildlife populations. There are however, limited species-specific diagnostic tests available for wildlife. Hippopotamuses are rarely tested for M. bovis infection and infection has not previously been confirmed in these species. In this study, blood and tissue samples collected from common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) residing in a bTB endemic area, the Greater Kruger Protected area (GKPA), were retrospectively screened to determine whether there was evidence for interspecies transmission of M. bovis, and to identify tools for M. bovis detection in this species. Using the multi-species DPP ® VetTB serological assay, a bTB seroprevelance of 8% was found in hippopotamus from GKPA. In addition, the first confirmed case of M. bovis infection in a free-ranging common hippopotamus is reported, based on the isolation in mycobacterial culture, genetic speciation, and detection of DNA in tissue samples. Importantly, the M. bovis spoligotype (SB0121) isolated from this common hippopotamus is shared with other M. bovis-infected hosts in GKPA, suggesting interspecies transmission. These results support the hypothesis that M. bovis infection may be under recognized in hippopotamus. Further investigation is needed to determine the risk of interspecies transmission of M. bovis to common hippopotamus in bTB endemic ecosystems and evaluate serological and other diagnostic tools in this species.

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Seroprevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex in Free-Ranging African Elephants (Loxodonta africana) in Kruger National Park, South Africa

Cited by 15 publications

References 15 publications

Epidemiology of Tuberculosis in Multi-Host Wildlife Systems: Implications for Black (Diceros bicornis) and White (Ceratotherium simum) Rhinoceros

Epidemiology of Tuberculosis in Multi-Host Wildlife Systems: Implications for Black (Diceros bicornis) and White (Ceratotherium simum) Rhinoceros

Serum Health Biomarkers in African and Asian Elephants: Value Ranges and Clinical Values Indicative of the Immune Response

Implications of Interspecies Transmission and Diagnosis of Mycobacterium bovis Infection in Free-Ranging Common Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)

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