Publicado un nuevo artículo de divulgación en German Multidisciplinary Publishing Center

1 de mayo de 2025

Velasco-Reinaldos C., Ortega J., Roy A., Moreno I., Dominguez M., Jones G., Gormley E., McGill K., Boniotti MB., Bakker D., Or E., Mazzone P., Martucciello A . y Bezos J..

The impact of zoonotic tuberculosis (TB) has been known for a long time and has
resulted in the implementation of milk pasteurization as the main preventive
measure. Livestock TB control programs were originally designed to reduce the risk
posed by zoonotic transmission to humans. Diagnosis of TB in livestock is based
primarily on cell-mediated immunity (CMI) diagnostic tests (intradermal test/IT and
interferon-gamma release assay/IGRA) using PPDs (purified protein derivatives from
Mycobacterium bovis and M. avium) that are sub-optimal in terms of sensitivity (Se)
and specificity (Sp)(1). Therefore, there is a need to continue working on the
development and improvement of diagnostic techniques, not only CMI-based tests but
also antibody-based tests. Bovine PPD consists of a largely undefined mix of proteins,
lipids, and carbohydrates obtained from cultures of M. bovis AN5. Since some of the
immune-reactive antigens are also present in non-pathogenic environmental
mycobacteria, this can lead to a reduction in test Sp. Further research on specific
antigens has been recommended in order to improve diagnostic performance. Over
the past two decades, specific M. bovis antigens and host biomarkers of infection have
been identified, paving the way for the development of defined antigen-based assays
and TB diagnostic platforms (2-4). In this project, we intend to close knowledge gaps
in the field performance of prototype antigen formulations (DST-F, P22) and develop
novel diagnostic platforms. This will contribute to TB eradication in domestic
ruminants and represent an important step towards reaching the global goal of
reducing the human TB incidence (WHO). The project is divided in four workpackages
with different objectives/activities that can be summarized in: (1) Validation of DSTF and P22 antigens in cattle, goats and buffalo under different epidemiological
situations using IT, IGRA and a multicytokine detection platform (MCP); (2) Supply of
DST-F and development of a MCP; (3) Production of P22 protein complex, validation
of P22 ELISA and development of a novel antigen capture ELISA for TB diagnosis in
domestic ruminants; and (4) Critical assessment of the performance of IT and IGRA
using DST-F and P22 and the novel diagnostic platforms.
In the first half of the project (month 18), field studies are being conducted in cattle,
goats, and buffaloes under different epidemiological situations within the context of
WP1, which have yielded preliminary results regarding the Se/Sp of P22 and DST-F.
Their use, compared to PPDs, appears to be related to lower Se and higher Sp of the
IT in the evaluated animal species. However, the IGRA has shown a more similar
performance regardless of the antigen used. The Se/Sp attributed to these antigens
still needs to be evaluated more in depth but depends on the particular animal
species, the epidemiological context, and the interpretation criteria used. The new
diagnostic techniques under development, mainly MCP and antigen detection
techniques, are still in the development and validation stages. Also, the antibody
detection technique based on P22 is already being used in cattle, goats, and buffalo,
and performance data is expected to be available in the coming months. The results
of the imdiTBap project will provide data about the usefulness of these new tools in
contributing to the eradication of TB in domestic ruminants

imdiTBap. Improving the diagnosis of tuberculosis in domestic ruminants through the use of new antigens and test platforms

	Servicio de Micobacterias (MYC). Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM).
	Departamento de Sanidad Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM).
	Servicio de Inmunología. Centro Nacional de Microbiología (CNM). Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII).
	Department of Bacteriology. Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
	University College Dublin (UCD).
	Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell Emilia Romagna (IZSLER).
	Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa.
	Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche (IZSUM).
	National Reference Centre for Hygiene and Technologies of Water Buffalo Farming and Production (CReNBuf). Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale de Mezzogiorno (IZSM).