Novel molecular transport medium used in combination with Xpert MTB/RIF ultra provides rapid detection of Mycobacterium bovis in African buffaloes
Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nature Research (part of Springer Nature)
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Mycobacterium bovis is the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in wildlife. Confirmation of M. bovis infection relies on mycobacterial culture, which is time-consuming. Collection and transportation of infectious material also pose a human health risk. PrimeStore Molecular Transport Medium (MTM) has been shown to effectively inactivate infectious organisms, making it a safe method for handling infectious samples. This study investigated an in-field sampling technique for rapid, safe detection of M. bovis in buffalo tissues. Potentially infected tissues from bTB test-positive buffaloes were swabbed at post-mortem examination and stored in PrimeStore MTM at ambient temperature until Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra testing was performed. Additionally, tissue samples were frozen and transported before homogenisation for culture and Ultra testing. Oral swabs were collected from M. bovis-unexposed buffaloes as a negative control cohort. Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) DNA was detected by Ultra in 13/16 tissue swabs and 9/16 matched tissue homogenates from culture-confirmed M. bovis-positive buffalo tissues. MTBC DNA was not detected in swabs from M. bovis-unexposed animals, showing the potentially high specificity of Ultra with PrimeStore swabs. PrimeStore MTM sample processing, in combination with the Ultra assay, has the potential to provide a safe, rapid post-mortem screening test for M. bovis in buffaloes.
Description
CITATION: Clarke, C., et al. 2021. Novel molecular transport medium used in combination with Xpert MTB/RIF ultra provides rapid detection of Mycobacterium bovis in African buffaloes. Scientific Reports, 11:7061, doi:10.1038/s41598-021-86682-5
The original publication is available at https://www.nature.com
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund
The original publication is available at https://www.nature.com
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund
Keywords
Mycobacterium bovis, Zoonoses, African buffalo -- Communicable diseases -- Transmission
Citation
Clarke, C., et al. 2021. Novel molecular transport medium used in combination with Xpert MTB/RIF ultra provides rapid detection of Mycobacterium bovis in African buffaloes. Scientific Reports, 11:7061, doi:10.1038/s41598-021-86682-5